The numbers in this article were last updated December 2013
Back in January 2010, the DWP announced that , six of the biggest mobile phone network companies would no longer charge their customers for calls to around 70 of the DWP’s 0800 numbers. The companies involved were O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.
A Benefits and Work member has used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a list of all the freephone numbers covered under the scheme, which are listed below.
One thing that is apparent is that, with few exceptions, it is only initial claims and emergencies that are covered. For problems that arise in the course of a claim, people who only have access to a mobile phone – around 12% of all households -will continue to have to pay exorbitant rates to talk to the DWP.
What sort of problems have you encountered trying to get through to the DWP on the phone – share your experiences by posting a response below.
Below is the current list of DWP 0800 telephone numbers that claimants can use to call the DWP for free from a mobile.
List of abbreviations:
NISSA Northern Ireland Social Security Agency
TPS The Pension Service
PDCS Pensions, Disability & Carers Service
MOPR Method of Payment Reform
0800220674 NISSA Benefit Enquiry Line for AA, DLA, Carer's Allowance & Carer's Credit
0800882200 DLA / AA Main Benefit Enquiry Line
0800991234 Pension Credit Application Line – TPS
08000121888 JCP First Contact New Claims - Welsh
08000224250 Customer First Line
08000327952 JCP New Claims Crisis Loans - English
08000328355 JCP New Claims Crisis Loan - Welsh
08000556688 JCP First Contact New Claims
08000856318 NI ESA Fresh Claims
08000856528 Customer Payment Centre - Shared Services
08000857075 PDCS TPS Method of Payment Refor - MOPR
08000857102 Customer Payment Centre - Shared Services
08006783682 DWP Emergency Line - English
08006783696 DWP Emergency Line - Welsh
08006783717 JCP New Claims Crisis Loans
08007314811 PDCS TPS Pension Credit
08007317898 PDCS TPS State Pension New Claims
08007317936 PDCS TPS State Pension New Claims - Welsh
08081002658 NISSA State Pension New Claims
08081006165 NISSA Pension Credit New Claims
08001690096 NISSA IB (IS) Re-assessment
08000121573 NISSA PIP Fresh Claims (not operational until PIP goes live in NI)
08009172222 PIP New Claims Service Line
08006783675 JCP Emergency
This list is currently being reviewed and is expected to be slightly amended/updated in January 2014.
