29 May 2007 - 0800 number to speed up benefit claims introduced by Jobcentre Plus
A new telephone service to improve the way that people claim benefits and get back to work advice is launched today by Jobcentre Plus, announced Minister for Employment Jim Murphy.
Following customer feedback, a new national 0800 number has been introduced, which is free to call from landlines and will speed up the claims process. In most cases, customers will need to have only one conversation with an adviser to make their benefit claim, so benefits will be received more quickly.
Jim Murphy said:
“Last year we piloted the 0800 number and the feedback we had from customers was very positive. I am pleased that this service will now be available to everyone, significantly improving the way that people can claim benefits.
“I believe that this change will encourage people to get in touch with us to claim the benefits they are entitled to as well as receiving help in getting back into the labour market.”
Lesley Strathie, Chief Executive, Jobcentre Plus said:
“This is one of a range of modernised services being introduced and continues our long-term strategy to improve our services. Our aim is to provide support for people in getting back to work, ensure customers receive the right benefits at the right time and provide a cost efficient service.”
The new numbers are:
Telephone: 0800 0 55 66 88
Textphone: 0800 0 23 48 88 (i)
Welsh language: 0800 0 12 18 88
Lines are open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. Charges may apply to calls from mobile phones, but the contact centre will call the customer back if requested. Customers who want face to face help filling in a claims form call can still visit their local Jobcentre Plus office where this help will be provided.
Notes to editors
(i) Texphones are a service for hearing impaired customers, and don’t accept text messages from mobile phones.
Previously, in order to make a claim for benefit, customers called a contact centre using an 0845 number. In order to reduce the cost to the customer the centre would arrange for a contact centre adviser to call them back within 36 hours.
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:
- Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
- A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
- Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
- Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.
For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
DWP Press Office: Christian Cubitt: 020 3267 5129
Out of Hours: 07659 108 883
Textphone: 020 7238 0788
Public Enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk