AA and Carer’s Allowance telephone claims restricted hours

We’ve just heard from DWP that as from today:

the Carer’s Allowance Unit and The Attendance Allowance Unit are trialling slightly shorter opening times for their telephone lines. For two weeks, they plan to open from 10:00 until 14:00 Monday to Friday. The aim is to ensure that during that period, the focus for staff will be on answering as many phone calls as possible, whilst the rest of the working day staff will focus on clearing new applications for benefit.

Obviously the aim is to provide the best possible level of service through utilising staff resources as efficiently as possible. However as we will be evaluating the trial, if during the period you receive any feedback from carers that relates to this altered way of working, then it would be very much appreciated if you could pass it on to us.

I rang earlier today then rang back after ten, Despite the warning, it only took three minutes from dialling to end of call to order some AA forms, so I was quite pleased with that.