Department for Work and Pensions

I know everyone that works for the Department for Work and Pensions DWP are a few brain cells short
and pose a serious threat to people. But please.

Rachel Reeves's (Chancellor)

Reeves admission in October 2025 that a letting agent failed to obtain a
required selective license for a rental property she and her husband owned, though the agent
later apologised for the error. In this case Reeves blamed the letting agent
I blame the DWP yet unlike Reeves I'm being punished.

  1. Pat McFadden MP
  2. Sir Stephen Timms MP.
  3. Bambos Charalambous bambos.charalambous.mp@parliament.uk (My MP)
  4. Haringey Council. Although involved, the council has zero authority over the DWP. They are included because It makes sense

Between and I've emailed Correspondence@dwp.gov.uk, ministers@dwp.gov.uk and Bambos Charalambous 10
I've phoned universal credit helpline 9 times

When you call the Universal Credit Helpline (0800 328 5644) they can tell you nothing

  • No Reference number
  • No Date
  • No Update

The lack of this basic information leads me to conclude no complaint has been raised


On It was confirmed by my caseworker
that complaints have no response timeline
Until the DWP respond you are in limbo

Aspects

Two problems occurred as a result of the mistakes below.
An apparent over payment with Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit (HB)

ESA

I do not understand the ESA and UC relation at all.

HB

Housing Benefit was regarded as a legacy benefit. Every year my landlord summits a change of rent notice. I forward this notice to my Council,
who consider my application for HB and respond as appreciate.
The new rent takes effect normal the first Monday in the new finical year.
In traditional bureaucratic government noose HB is paid two weeks in arrears. So given i was in receipt of 100% HB my weekly rent was £ 121.15
On Monday 21 October 2024 i paid my landlord £ 121.15
and On Monday 28 October 2024 I paid my landlord £ !21.15
Both dates give a total of £ 242.30 also on Monday 28 October 2024 i received a payment from The council as HB of +£ 232.30.
this makes sense. little bit bureaucratic but overall simple.
  • Apply for UC
  • Claim closed, Because I didn't attend an appointment.
  • Mandatory Reconsideration reversed the decision to close the claim
  • First UC Payment of £319.56 and Second UC Payment of £319.56
On I got a letter from UC titled 
You have been paid more Universal Credit than you are entitled to

You were overpaid £934.59 from to .
On I got a letter from my Council titled 
Over payment of Housing Benefit

You were overpaid £813.44 from to .
Here we have to Government Organisations who when talking about the same benefit HB can agree on anything.
  • to . OR 53Days/7.57Weeks
  • to . OR 60Days/8.57Weeks

Mistakes

In I received a migration letter from the DWP to move onto Universal Credit (UC).
With letter in hand I called them to start the process.
I remember being underwhelmed at the process, I explained to the advisor I was moving from legacy benefits to UC, several times.
I don’t recall feeling it was a positive phone call, more that the advisor really didn’t want to be there.
I left with more questions about the process.

On I received a SMS telling me I had an appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm
Problem 1 I’m House Bound, going out Is extremely difficult.
I called UC and explained, they seamed to accept my explanation
On I received a second SMS telling me the appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm had been cancelled
On I received an SMS asking me to call UC.
I did, and was told they had closed my claim because I didn’t attend the appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm. The one that was cancelled.

Original Mistake

Attempt to fix Mistake

I know everyone that works for the Department for Work and Pensions DWP are a few brain cells short
and pose a serious threat to people. But please.

Rachel Reeves's (Chancellor)

Reeves admission in October 2025 that a letting agent failed to obtain a
required selective license for a rental property she and her husband owned, though the agent
later apologised for the error. In this case Reeves blamed the letting agent
I blame the DWP yet unlike Reeves I'm being punished.

  1. Pat McFadden MP
  2. Sir Stephen Timms MP.
  3. Bambos Charalambous bambos.charalambous.mp@parliament.uk (My MP)
  4. Haringey Council. Although involved, the council has zero authority over the DWP. They are included because It makes sense

Between and I've emailed Correspondence@dwp.gov.uk, ministers@dwp.gov.uk and Bambos Charalambous 10
I've phoned universal credit helpline 9 times

When you call the Universal Credit Helpline (0800 328 5644) they can tell you nothing

  • No Reference number
  • No Date
  • No Update

The lack of this basic information leads me to conclude no complaint has been raised


On It was confirmed by my caseworker
that complaints have no response timeline
Until the DWP respond you are in limbo

Aspects

Two problems occurred as a result of the mistakes below.
An apparent over payment with Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit (HB)

ESA

I do not understand the ESA and UC relation at all.

HB

Housing Benefit was regarded as a legacy benefit. Every year my landlord summits a change of rent notice. I forward this notice to my Council,
who consider my application for HB and respond as appreciate.
The new rent takes effect normal the first Monday in the new finical year.
In traditional bureaucratic government noose HB is paid two weeks in arrears. So given i was in receipt of 100% HB my weekly rent was £ 121.15
On Monday 21 October 2024 i paid my landlord £ 121.15
and On Monday 28 October 2024 I paid my landlord £ !21.15
Both dates give a total of £ 242.30 also on Monday 28 October 2024 i received a payment from The council as HB of +£ 232.30.
this makes sense. little bit bureaucratic but overall simple.
  • Apply for UC
  • Claim closed, Because I didn't attend an appointment.
  • Mandatory Reconsideration reversed the decision to close the claim
  • First UC Payment of £319.56 and Second UC Payment of £319.56
On I got a letter from UC titled 
You have been paid more Universal Credit than you are entitled to

You were overpaid £934.59 from to .
On I got a letter from my Council titled 
Over payment of Housing Benefit

You were overpaid £813.44 from
to .
Here we have to Government Organisations who when talking about the same benefit HB can agree on anything.
  • to . OR 53Days/7.57Weeks
  • to . OR 60Days/8.57Weeks

Mistakes

In I received a migration letter from the DWP to move onto Universal Credit (UC).
With letter in hand I called them to start the process.
I remember being underwhelmed at the process, I explained to the advisor I was moving from legacy benefits to UC, several times.
I don’t recall feeling it was a positive phone call, more that the advisor really didn’t want to be there.
I left with more questions about the process.

On I received a SMS telling me I had an appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm
Problem 1 I’m House Bound, going out Is extremely difficult.
I called UC and explained, they seamed to accept my explanation
On I received a second SMS telling me the appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm had been cancelled
On I received an SMS asking me to call UC.
I did, and was told they had closed my claim because I didn’t attend the appointment at Wood Green Jobcentre Plus Monday, 2nd December 2022 at 12:25pm. The one that was cancelled.

Original Mistake

Attempt to fix Mistake