Some reports suggest DWP staff are writing benefit cheques by hand

I am in receipt of benefits. Will I get my money?

This is likely to prove the biggest single computer failure to hit the UK benefits system, with 80% of DWP computers affected.

But the DWP says ongoing state pension and benefit claimants were continuing to be paid.

Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson said on Friday it was "business as usual" for its customers.

But in some areas DWP staff may have had to adopt emergency payment procedures.

Some reports suggested that DWP staff were having to write cheques out for claimants by hand in benefit offices.

The DWP deals with a host of benefits including; Jobseekers' Allowance, Child Benefit, Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.

I have recently filed a benefits claim. Can I expect a delay?

The DWP has admitted that the computer problem has led to some delays in processing new and amended benefit claims.

It received around 60,000 new or amended claims during the crisis, but predicted "only a fraction" of these customers would be affected.

Helpline numbers Pension Credit 0800 99 1234 Child Benefit 0845 302 1444 Child Support Agency 0845 133 133 Disability Living Allowance 0845 712 3456 Jobseekers' Allowance claimants contact local Job centre plus

They have assured the BBC that only some offices are affected and that the backlog of cases is being dealt with.

The DWP said that people worried about their claim should contact their local benefit office.

When will the computer problems be sorted out?

The DWP computer system was given the 'all clear' on Friday afternoon after computer specialists worked for several days to fix the problems.

But it is not clear if the glitch will have a knock-on effect on Monday.

How did it happen?

On Monday a routine software upgrade affected desktop computers so that users could not access some information.

Since then, representatives of computer contractors EDS and Microsoft have been working around the clock to find the fault which has left the staff having to communicate by fax because the e-mail system has broken down.

Have there been other computer failures before?

This is the latest in a long line of Whitehall computer problems.

The Child Support Agency, Customs & Excise and the Student Loan Company have all been hit by serious computer failures in recent times.

Last year, the Inland Revenue's tax credits system also descended into chaos when a computer glitch in the new software stopped crucial payments.

Following this failure, EDS lost its �3bn Inland Revenue IT contract.

Further embarrassment has been heaped upon the DWP by the revelation that it spent �413m on external management and technical support, including consultants, advisers, accounts and lawyers in 2003/04.