Hello! Just wanted to confirm that this number just worked for me, so it can be moved from the unverified list to the main database:

DWP (Department for Work and Pensions)
0845 600 3016
01942 626001
THIS NUMBER WORKS AS OF SEPT 2011. MAIN SWITCHBOARD FOR ALL MAIN BENEFITS INCLUDING JSA/IS/ESA/IB. HOPE YOU FIND THIS NUMBER AS USEFULL AS I HAVE :) HAPPY CHEAP CALLING GUYS!!!!

welcome to SayNoTo0870 Lottiotta,

Can you just confirm, was the 0845 number for a specific part of the DWP or just a general number?

Sorry for the delay! Yes, just a general number.

Hi Lottiotta,

Thanks for the information, as it's now 2013 have you used the number again?

:)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-guidance-for-customer-service-lines

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dwp-helps-cut-telephone-call-costs-from-march-2014

Good Evening,

I have recently needed to call DWP for the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) on 0845 608 8757 (as printed on their publications)

I was today informed via their automated announcements that as of Monday March 17th the number will change to: 0345 608 8545 (note the change in the last 4 digits also)

The message also advised the 0845 version of that number may be dialled, this would give callers two options depending on what number is charged to the caller at the cheapest rate...

I will (should I have the need to call any other DWP numbers) report back if any others have a similar message.

:)

Ofcom introduced 034 and 037 numbers in 2007 so that organisations could have an easy migration path away from their existing 084 and 087 numbers simply by changing only a single digit.

Once both the public and the various organisations using 084 and 087 numbers have caught on to this simple scheme, these number changes present much less of a challenge.

While there is nothing in the rules to say that an organisation migrating a large number of 084 numbers over to their 034 equivalents cannot at the same time revise what each of the new numbers is used for, I hope DWP's implementation doesn't confuse anyone.

On reading your post again, I now see the 0845 version of the number will also change. No problem then. Hopefully they will publish a full list of changes at some point.

In general terms, callers using "BT Weekend", "BT Evening and Weekend" and "Vodafone pay-as-you-go" should continue calling the 0845 numbers and almost everyone else should call the new 0345 numbers.

Certainly, anyone within inclusive minutes on their landline or mobile will find they can be used for calls to 0345 numbers but probably cannot be used for calls to 0845 numbers, with BT being the major exception by offering both as inclusive calls.