The payment date for certain benefits, including Universal Credit, will be moved forward for thousands of individuals next week due to an upcoming bank holiday.
Why the Change?
The May bank holiday falls on Monday, May 4. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not process benefit payments on bank holidays. Instead, payments are made on the preceding working day. Therefore, if you are scheduled to receive a benefit payment on Monday, May 4, you should expect it on Friday, May 1.
A second bank holiday occurs on Monday, May 25. Again, payments due on that date will be made early, on Friday, May 22.
What This Means for You
Receiving your payment early means a longer gap until your next scheduled payment. The payment will be deposited into your usual bank account, and the amount remains the same unless your personal circumstances have changed.
This change also affects certain HMRC benefits, such as Child Benefit.
Standard Payment Schedules
How often you are paid depends on the type of benefit you claim. For example, Universal Credit is paid on the same date each month, while Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
Note that Universal Credit has replaced several older benefits: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, and Housing Benefit.
Below is a list of common benefits and their usual payment frequencies:
- Attendance Allowance – Usually every four weeks
- Carer's Allowance – Weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Child Benefit – Usually every four weeks, or weekly for single parents or those receiving certain benefits
- Disability Living Allowance – Usually every four weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance – Usually every two weeks
- Income Support – Usually every two weeks
- Jobseeker's Allowance – Usually every two weeks
- Pension Credit – Usually every four weeks
- Personal Independence Payment – Usually every four weeks
- State Pension – Usually every four weeks
- Universal Credit – Every month
What If You Don't Get Paid?
If you believe you haven't been paid, first double-check your bank account. If the payment date has passed and the money is not there, contact the relevant helpline. Note that helplines are unlikely to be open on bank holidays, so you may need to wait until the next working day.
Helpline numbers:
- Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644 (free), Welsh speaking: 0800 328 1744, Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 328 5644
- Child Benefit: 0300 200 3100 (free), Outside UK: +44 161 210 3086
- Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance: 0800 169 0310 (free), Welsh speaking: 0800 169 0207, Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 169 0310
