Thousands of claimants receiving benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will have their payments brought forward this month due to the second May bank holiday. The bank holiday falls on Monday, May 26, and since the departments do not make payments on bank holidays, those due to receive money on that day will instead be paid on Friday, May 23.
This temporary change is a routine measure designed to ensure claimants have access to their benefits before the long weekend, preventing any financial strain that delayed payments could cause. The amount and the account used for payment will remain the same; only the date is altered for those affected.
Claimants not due to be paid on the bank holiday will see no change and will receive their money as normal. The payment schedule will revert to the usual pattern after the May bank holiday, with the next disruption expected during the August bank holiday and again in December due to the Christmas period.
If a payment does not arrive in the account on the new date, claimants should contact the relevant department as soon as possible. However, support lines will be closed on the bank holiday itself, so contact should be made on the day the payment is due. Official support numbers can be found on the government’s website.
It is important for claimants to note that receiving benefits earlier means the money must last longer, even if only by one day. Careful budgeting is advised to avoid any shortfall before the next scheduled payment.
