Thousands of benefit claimants across the UK will receive their payments early this week due to the upcoming May bank holiday. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that payments scheduled for Monday, May 25, will instead be made on Friday, May 22.
The change affects a range of benefits, including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and other DWP and HMRC payments. This follows a similar adjustment for the first May bank holiday on May 4, when payments due on that day were brought forward to May 1.
Claimants are advised that while they will receive their money earlier, the interval until the next payment will be longer. The amount paid remains unchanged unless personal circumstances have altered. Payment frequency varies by benefit type—for example, Universal Credit is paid monthly on the same date, while Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
If claimants believe they have not been paid, they should first check their bank account. If the payment is missing on the correct date, they should contact the relevant helpline, though these may be closed on bank holidays, so they may need to wait until the next working day.
