Older state pensioners across the UK with a specific two-digit code are set to receive Monday payments of up to £739.60 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), despite a bank holiday in Scotland. The King approved a Royal Proclamation for a bonus bank holiday this Monday, June 15, to celebrate the Scottish men's national team participating in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. The bank holiday was proposed by First Minister John Swinney to allow people, businesses and other organisations in Scotland time to celebrate the team's opening game against Haiti.
When bank holidays coincide with benefit payment dates, the DWP normally issues payments on the earliest working day before instead. However, the government department has confirmed that the bank holiday in Scotland will not disrupt payments, so pensioners expecting their latest state pension instalment today will receive it as normal.
A spokesperson for the DWP told The Express: “Payments will still process as they do for other Scottish Bank Holidays. Government Banking have confirmed that Bacs does not close for Scottish only Bank Holidays.”
How to Check Your Payment Date
State pensioners can determine when their payment date from the DWP will fall in June by checking their national insurance number. The final two digits correspond to the day of the week that payments are normally issued, as follows:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
Pensioners with a number ending in 00 to 19 are paid on a Monday, which may coincide with the bank holiday in Scotland today. In such cases, payments will be made into bank accounts as normal.
State Pension Amounts for 2026/27
For older state pensioners on the old basic state pension with a full national insurance record, weekly payments are now worth a maximum of £184.90 per week, up from £176.45 previously. As the state pension is paid every four weeks, those who qualify for the full amount can expect payments of £739.60 from the DWP in each four-week period. Over a full year, the 4.8% increase amounts to a maximum of £9,614.80 in basic state pension payments, up from £9,175.40, giving those eligible for the full rate an extra £439.40 annually.
Confirming the new rates at the end of last year, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said: “I am pleased to announce that the basic and new State Pensions will be increased by 4.8%, in line with the increase in average weekly earnings in the year to May-July 2025. This delivers on our commitment to the Triple Lock, increasing these rates in line with the highest of growth in prices, growth in earnings or 2.5%. From April, the full annual rate of the new State Pension will increase by around £575. The full annual rate of the basic State Pension will increase by around £440.”
Qualifying Years for Full Basic State Pension
To receive the full basic state pension, you need a certain number of qualifying years of national insurance. For men, this is usually 30 qualifying years if born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if born before 1945. For women, you need 30 qualifying years if born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if born before 1950. If you have fewer than the full number of qualifying national insurance years, your basic state pension will be less than £739.60 every four weeks in the 2026/27 tax year.
When Is the State Pension Paid?
The DWP explains: “You’ll be asked when you want to start getting your State Pension when you claim. Your first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose. You’ll get a full payment every 4 weeks after that. You might get part of a payment before your first full payment. The letter confirming your State Pension payment will tell you what to expect. The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.”
