Millions of people are set to get their benefits early due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II next week. The longest reigning UK monarch died on Thursday September 8 aged 96 and is set to be laid to rest on Monday September 19.
The UK government has confirmed the funeral service will take place at 11am the day which has been designated as a bank holiday for the entirety of the UK including Wales. Schools will be closed but the government guidance on the workplace is that the decision on closures "is a matter for discussion between individuals and their employer."
Most of the country is set to come to a halt in tribute to the monarch, with a number of shops and supermarkets confirming they will not open their stores next Monday as a mark of respect. One Welsh health board announced that all planned appointments and clinics scheduled on the day of the Queen's funeral have been cancelled.
Read more: Welsh woman second in line to see Queen's coffin after joining queue 48 hours early
As is usually the case with bank holidays, the funeral will also mean changes to when millions of benefits claimants will get their money. The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that those due to get their usual payment on Monday, September 19 will now get it three days early, on Friday, September 16. This is due to the fact that DWP offices will be shut on Monday to mark the occasion.
A DWP spokesperson said: "The government has confirmed payments of benefits due to land in accounts on Monday September 19 will be made early. The Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs have put arrangements in place to ensure all benefits and credits due to be paid on this date – now a bank holiday for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral - will be delivered in advance.
"People who are due to receive payments on Monday September 19 will instead be paid on Friday September 16, the last working day before the State Funeral. This arrangement follows standard DWP and HMRC protocol that sees benefit and credit payment dates brought forward in line with national bank holidays."
People claiming the following benefits will be affected by the change:
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Disability living allowance
- Employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Industrial injuries disablement benefit
- Jobseeker’s allowance
- Pension credit
- Personal independence payment
- State pension
- Universal credit
- Child benefit/guardian’s allowance
- Working tax credits
- Child tax credits
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