State pensioners with a specific two-digit code will get early Friday payments of up to £965 in August. The early payments come as a result of the late summer bank holiday which falls on Monday, August 31, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
When a benefit payment, such as the State Pension, is due on the same day as a bank holiday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will issue payments on the earliest working day before instead. As such, some pensioners can expect to see their State Pension payment arrive in their bank account three days earlier than normal this month.
DWP confirms early payment date
The DWP has today (August 14) confirmed that pension and benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday, August 28, to account for the summer bank holiday. As such, pensioners who are expecting a State Pension payment on Monday, August 31, will receive it three days early on Friday, August 28, instead and this will be the case no matter where you live in the UK.
Scotland follows the same principle despite having different bank holiday arrangements, with the summer bank holiday having already been observed at the start of this month on August 3.
How to check your payment day
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “We’re pleased to confirm that benefit payments due on the August bank holiday will be paid earlier. This will help ensure families and older people receive their money without disruption over the bank holiday period.”
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 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
So if your National Insurance number ends in 00 to 19, it means your usual payment date falls on a Monday, meaning it may coincide with the summer bank holiday on August 31. If this is the case, the DWP will instead issue your payment on Friday, August 28.
Payment amounts and what to do
In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, the full new State Pension is now worth £241.30 per week, while the full basic State Pension is worth £184.90. As the State Pension is paid every four weeks, it means those who receive the full new State Pension can get up to £965.20 in each four-week payment period from the DWP, while older pensioners who get the basic State Pension can get up to £705.80 every four weeks. Of course, these amounts are based on a full National Insurance record, so those who don’t have enough qualifying years will receive less than these amounts.
If your State Pension payment date is changing due to the August summer bank holiday, you don’t need to do anything as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
The DWP said: “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.”
