A change to the payment for UK benefits is set to come into effect today (April 28) due to the upcoming bank holiday.
The Department for Working Pensions (DWP) confirmed the change is being made for the Early May Bank holiday, which is just days away.
Taking to their official Twitter page to announce the update this morning, they said: "Information for claimants already receiving payments.
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"If you are due to be paid on 1 May you will be paid today, 28 Apr. Please contact us straight away if there is a problem with your payment."
They ask that people also check out their website for further questions.
This isn't the only change, however, with another bank holiday occurring one week after that on May 8, also a Monday, to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. In addition to that, the Spring Bank Holiday then occurs on May 29, also falling on a Monday.
What are the payment changes?
Payments due on May 1 will go in on Friday, April 28 - today.
According to Birmingham Live, Universal Credit is tied to a date rather than a day of week so any payments due on the 29th, 30th or 1st will go in on Friday too.
Similar changes apply to the Coronation Bank Holiday on May 8. Payments that would be normally due on the day will go in on Friday, May 5. And any Universal Credit payments due on the 6th, 7th or 8th of the month will also go in on the Friday.
The last bank holiday of the month is on Monday, May 29. Benefit payments that would usually go in on this day should be paid into your bank account on Friday, May 26, instead. Universal Credit payments due on the 27th, 28th or 29th will also be moved to Friday.
In the case of State Pension, you'll only see payments moved if you get your pension paid in on a Monday, which applies to those with a National Insurance number ending with the numbers 00 to 19.
Which benefits are affected?
The list of 12 payments affected includes:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
- State Pension
- Universal Credit
- Tax credits (such as Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit is paid every four weeks on the same date to those who are out of work, unable to work or on a low income. The date is determined by when your first payment arrives.
So, for instance, if your first Universal Credit payment was deposited in your account on April 26, you will get paid on the 26th of every month after that. But it will be moved in any month where your pay date happens to fall on a weekend or bank holiday.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is usually paid by the DWP every four weeks. Your original decision letter tells you the date of your first payment and what day of the week you’ll usually be paid. It would never be arranged to fall on a weekend.
But if your payment date is on a day of the week that is a bank holiday, you will usually be paid early. After that, you’ll get paid as normal.
Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. However, you can get it paid weekly if you’re a single parent or if one of you is claiming other benefits. So it would not be paid on a weekend anyway. It's handled by HM Revenue and Customs rather than the DWP.
How often benefits are paid
According to the Gov.uk website, it is as follows:
- Attendance Allowance - Usually every 4 weeks
- Carer’s Allowance - Weekly in advance or every 4 weeks
- Child Benefit - Usually every 4 weeks - or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits
- Disability Living Allowance - Usually every 4 weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance - Usually every 2 weeks
- Income Support - Usually every 2 weeks
- Jobseeker’s Allowance - Usually every 2 weeks
- Pension Credit - Usually every 4 weeks
- Personal Independence Payment - Usually every 4 weeks
- State Pension - Usually every 4 weeks
- Tax credits, such as Working Tax Credits - Every week or every 4 weeks
- Universal Credit - Every month (except in Scotland and Northern Ireland)
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