Millions of benefit claimants could see their Department for Work and Pensions payments changed next month, owing to the summer bank holiday falling on Monday 31 August. The majority of payments, however, will be issued as usual throughout the rest of the month.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland all observe the summer bank holiday on the same date, while Scotland marks the occasion on Monday 3 August. Payments ordinarily scheduled on bank holidays are typically brought forward to the preceding working day.
Official government guidance regarding bank holiday payments states: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
“If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for Child Benefit.”
Approximately 24 million people across the country currently receive some form of DWP-administered benefit, including those drawing a state pension, equating to roughly one in three of the population, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The benefit payments that may be affected by the August bank include:
State pension.
Universal credit.
Pension credit.
Child benefit.
Disability living allowance.
Personal independence payment (PIP).
Attendance allowance.
Carer’s allowance.
Employment support allowance The revised payment schedule also affects the state pension. Ordinarily, the basic state pension is paid directly into recipients’ bank accounts every four weeks, with the precise payment day determined by the final two digits of your National Insurance (NI) number.
Here’s when you should be paid based on those numbers:
00 to 19: Monday.
20 to 39: Tuesday.
40 to 59: Wednesday.
60 to 79: Thursday.
80 to 99: Friday.
As payments are being made earlier than usual, recipients will need to ensure their money stretches further than in previous months. Should your benefits fail to arrive as expected, you are advised to contact the Department of Work and Pensions on 0800 328 5644.
It is worth bearing in mind that the DWP may operate reduced services on bank holidays.
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