mc2fool wrote: I take it it was as we identified, the missing 45th year? And we know it wasn't missing in your actual NI record, so was it missing in DWP's copy?
mc2fool wrote:How bizarre! So it sounds like the general enquiries call centre folks only have access to DWP's data on you but the change of circumstances folks also have access to HMRC's data (it's HMRC that maintains NI records), and he could see both and immediately spot the difference ... is that the impression you got?
Yes, it was the missing year. The chap I spoke to made no specific reference to looking at the HMRC data and judging by the speed with which he confirmed my suspicions, I got the impression it was on his system. Additionally, he almost immediately confirmed not only the corrected weekly figure but also the amount of arrears payable for the 4 weeks and 5 days paid at the lower rate. I would be surprised and very impressed if he could have transferred the missing data from the HMRC system to the DWP system and then got it to produce these figures so quickly whilst on the phone to me.
In view of this, I suspect (and actually think he may have mentioned it, now I think of it) that the DWP system had the data sometime in April, but a glitch somewhere caused my problem. Possibly my applying in March, at which point the 2020-2021 NI year would not have been on the DWP system might have been the start of the problem, but clearly not the real issue otherwise everyone qualifying for a pension soon after 6th April each year would have the same problem.
I suspect staff shortages or lack of knowledge. My wife is experiencing issues too. As a payer of the reduced rate "married womans stamp" she only qualified for a pension when I did, and based on my NI record. We made several enquiries leading up to my pension date to find out how she should claim it, having found she could not use the online method. We were variously told it would start automatically when I got mine, she could only apply after mine became payable, and that she could only apply by paper form.
At the time I rang them to query my incorrect payment back in July, they said they would look into it and let us know. A form arrived in the post a couple of weeks later, and we filled it in. A copy of our marriage certificate had to be enclosed, which they duly returned a week or so later, but nothing further was heard from them. When I spoke to the helpful chap referred to above, I asked if he could see the state of play of my wife's application. He saw immediately that an application had been received, but he said that the file had been closed, so had we waited, nothing would have been forthcoming. He said he could request it be reopened and another team would then process it. It remains to be seen if that actually happens...