The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be sending state pensioners payments of up to £921 before Easter based on a two-digit code. The State Pension is due to rise by 4.8% at the start of the new tax year in April which will give pensioners on the full new State Pension an extra £575 per year, while older pensioners on the full basic State Pension will be £439 better off annually. But as the new tax year doesn’t begin until April 6, pensioners still have several weeks to wait before the new rates are reflected in payments.
State Pension payments can sometimes be disrupted from month to month due to bank holidays, meaning pensioners have to make their cash last a little longer before their next payment arrives. As two bank holidays fall in April, some pensioners can expect to be paid earlier than usual next month – but when you get your payment is dependent on a two-digit code.
The bank holidays in April fall on Friday, April 3 (Good Friday), and Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday), so pensioners who would normally receive their State Pension on a Friday or a Monday can expect to be paid earlier than normal.
If your payment is due on either of these days, your new payment date from the DWP will be as follows:
- If your State Pension payment is due on Friday, April 3, you’ll instead be paid on Thursday, April 2
- If your State Pension payment is due on Monday, April 6, you’ll instead be paid on Thursday, April 2
If your State Pension payment date is changing this month you don’t need to do anything as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
The DWP explains: “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.”
The State Pension is typically paid every four weeks and when you first claim it, you choose the date when you want to receive your payment.
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
So if your National Insurance number ends in either 00 to 19, or 80 to 99, it means your usual payment date falls on a Monday or a Friday, meaning it may coincide with the Easter bank holiday. As such, payments will be issued on the earliest working day before which will be Thursday, April 2.
The DWP explains: “You’ll be asked when you want to start getting your State Pension when you claim. Your first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose. You’ll get a full payment every 4 weeks after that.
“You might get part of a payment before your first full payment. The letter confirming your State Pension payment will tell you what to expect.
“The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.”