Households across Wales could receive £25 payments to help with heating costs this November, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirms its payment schedule for the month. With colder temperatures arriving, energy bills are rising after the energy price cap increased this month.
November Benefit Payment Schedule
Benefit payments will be issued as normal in November, as there are no bank holidays. Payments are usually made directly into bank, building society or credit union accounts. If a payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, recipients are typically paid on the working day before.
Benefits paid in November include Universal Credit, State Pension, Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance.
State Pension Payment Dates
The basic state pension is typically paid every four weeks, with the payment day determined by the final two digits of the national insurance (NI) number. Recipients are paid as follows: NI numbers ending 00 to 19 on Monday, 20 to 39 on Tuesday, 40 to 59 on Wednesday, 60 to 79 on Thursday, and 80 to 99 on Friday.
The state pension will rise by 3.9% in April 2027, an increase of £488.80, bringing it to £13,036.40 a year. This surpasses the personal income tax threshold for the first time, though the government has confirmed that pensioners whose sole income is the state pension will not pay tax on it. The current full state pension stands at £12,547.60, having increased by 4.8% in April this year.
Cold Weather Payment Eligibility
From November 1, eligible households across Wales could receive £25 for each seven-day period of cold weather. To qualify, the average temperature in the recipient's area, based on their postcode, must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days from November 1 2026 to March 31 2027.
Around 24 million people across the UK currently receive some combination of DWP benefits, including state pension, representing roughly one in three people. Andy Burnham has stated that addressing the cost of living is among the foremost priorities of his government as the Autumn Budget approaches next week.
