UNIVERSAL Credit may be affected by changes due to the Easter bank holidays this week, with payments earlier than expected for many claimants.
Both Good Friday April 18 and Easter Monday, April 21, are bank holidays where payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) won't be made.
If you are due to receive a DWP benefit payment on either day, you may find you receive your payment on a different day.
While you may be paid earlier in some cases, the money will also have to last you longer, as payment dates will return to normal after the Easter bank holiday weekend.
If your payment is due on either Good Friday, it is likely you will receive the payment on Thursday, April 17.
The same is true for those expecting a payment on Easter Monday.
If you’re payment is due on a different day, it will arrive in your account as normal and the amount you are due to be paid will remain the same.
State Pension, Child Benefit and other benefits will also see changes - and others may be affected by the Easter bank holiday weekend, depending on your regular payment date:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State pension
- Tax Credits
- Universal Credit
Millions of people who receive Universal Credit should have seen their payments from the DWP increase this month.
Working age benefits including Child Benefit and Universal Credit have increased by 1.7%, in line with inflation figures from September last year.
