Scotland may not be due another bank holiday until November, however, the upcoming one in England and Wales on Monday, August 29 may affect some benefit payments due on that date. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared details of changes to planned payment dates for people claiming 11 benefits or State Pension.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have also updated their online guidance for people claiming Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance showing that no payments will be made on Monday, August 29. Payments due on Tuesday, August 30 will land in bank accounts as normal.
In an update, DWP said that office and phone lines will be closed and that to make sure people receive their payments on a day when offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early. It said: “If the expected payment date is Monday 29 August benefits will be paid early on Friday 26 August.”
Full list of DWP and HMRC benefits to be paid early this week
If your benefit is listed below and you are due to be paid on Monday, August 29 it will now be paid on Friday, August 26.
Benefits affected:
- Universal Credit
- State Pension (a contributory benefit)
- Pension Credit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
DWP added that if your expected payment date does not fall on August 29, it will be made as normal.
Tax Credits cost of living payment
The DWP recently clarified the eligibility criteria for people claiming Tax Credits who are due to receive the first part of the £650 means-tested cost of living payment next month.
Over one million people claiming Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will receive a one-off payment for £326 in September.
Tax Credits eligibility for £326 one-off payment
The DWP recently clarified the eligibility criteria for people claiming Tax Credits who are due to receive the first part of the £650 means-tested cost of living payment next month.
Over one million people claiming Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will receive a one-off payment for £326 in September.
Those who receive Tax Credits from HMRC along with a qualifying benefit from the DWP should have received their money in July.
The upcoming payment is for those only in receipt of the benefits delivered by HMRC.
To help people understand the eligibility criteria more clearly, DWP has updated the official cost of living factsheet on GOV.UK. This is to ensure all Tax Credits claimants are aware of not only the qualifying period over April and May, but also that they must have received an annual award of at least £26 from HMRC - or they will not get the £326 payment.
Tax Credits eligibility for £326 one-off payment
To get the first cost of living payment of £326, DWP says that you must have been entitled, or later found to be entitled, for any day in the period between April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022 to:
- a payment of Tax Credits
- an annual award of at least £26 of Tax Credits
If you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a cost of living payment for Child Tax Credit only.
Remember, if you get Tax Credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP, you will get a cost of living payment from DWP only.
The second payment for £324 will be made in the winter - no details have been released on this yet.
To keep up to date with the cost of living crisis, join in the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
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