The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed all of its phone lines and offices will be shut on Monday for the Queen's funeral. The DWP, which administers most benefits in the UK, has confirmed its phone lines and offices will not be operating on Monday, September 19, which is a bank holiday as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II takes place.
The longest-reigning monarch in the UK's history will be laid to rest in London and the occasion means most services are cancelled including GP services and some hospital appointments in Wales with many shops also closed on the day. The DWP has confirmed it will closed all its offices and phone lines meaning benefits claimants won't be able to contact them on the day.
Read more: Universal Credit change to see millions get benefits paid early due to Queen's funeral
Anyone with a query will now have to ring on Friday or wait until Tuesday when services reopen after the funeral. Confirming the decision on its social media the DWP said: "Changes to our opening times due to the bank holiday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Monday, September 19, offices and phone lines are closed. Tuesday, September 20, offices and phone lines are open."
The UK Government confirmed the bank holiday arrangements on its own website, saying: "This will allow individuals, businesses, and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate her reign while marking the final day of the period of national mourning. This bank holiday will operate in the same way as other bank holidays and there is no statutory entitlement to time off.
"Employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement. The bank holiday will take place across the United Kingdom."
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