The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a significant change that could affect hundreds of thousands of benefit recipients across the United Kingdom. Tens of millions of people receive some form of financial support, including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Child Benefit, designed to assist those on low incomes. The DWP is responsible for distributing these benefits, along with the State Pension, typically on a fortnightly, four-weekly, or monthly basis.
Bank holiday payment adjustments
If your regular payment date falls on a bank holiday, the DWP will adjust the schedule. This applies to anyone expecting a payment on Monday, May 25, which is the Spring bank holiday across the UK. The DWP has confirmed that payments due on that Monday will be issued on Friday, May 22 instead. HMRC has also stated that some payments scheduled for next Monday will be brought forward to this Friday.
Affected benefits
The affected benefits include Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). State Pension payments may also be impacted. A similar adjustment occurred earlier this month for the Early May bank holiday on Monday, May 4.
After the upcoming bank holiday, there will be no further bank holidays in England or Wales until August, meaning benefit payments are unlikely to shift again before then. However, Scotland will observe a bank holiday on June 15, and Northern Ireland has a bank holiday on July 13, which may affect payment dates for recipients in those regions.
Benefit recipients are advised to check their payment schedules and plan accordingly to avoid any disruption.
