DWP payments will come early in April and May this year (Image: Getty)
Given the timing of Easter this year, people who rely on benefits should be aware of how a change to the upcoming payment schedule will affect them. Monthly payments from sources such as Child Benefit, Pension Credit, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may all be impacted.
Payments normally due around the start of the month will be paid out earlier than usual. For instance, if cash is due to be deposited between April and April 6, it will be added to bank accounts early on Thursday, April 2.
If the upcoming payment does not fall on either Easter holiday, it will be paid as normal. Payment dates are determined by the date of your initial claim or your National Insurance number, and they follow strict, automated cycles.
Given that straight after Easter, the UK will have another set of bank holidays in May, Brits on benefits could potentially be in for another early payday. The same type of benefits will be paid on Friday, May 1, if they would normally be paid on Monday, May 4.
There is another bank holiday at the end of the month, on Monday, May 25, that could also affect benefit payments. Schedules should resume as normal in June, with no further bank holidays until late August, followed by Christmas in December, reports the Mirror.
While DWP benefit recipients receive these earlier-than-planned payments in April and May, the next payment in June will still be made on its regular date. This creates a longer gap between this payment and the next, meaning the same amount of funds must cover a longer period.
Although these early payments come back-to-back and are just a few days apart from the ‘normal’ date, people who rely on these funds may struggle if this cash needs to stretch further than usual. Anyone who is already struggling financially may struggle further without planning their budget to account for the extra days between payments.
How to make money last longer
Making money last longer involves a combination of budgeting, cutting household costs, taking advantage of special discounts, and ensuring you claim all available support. Making a budget when claiming benefits is vital to ensure you have enough money to live on and pay the bills.
If you don’t already, or haven’t done for a while, make a list of all income and expenses to understand your spending, aiming to cut costs in areas like food and energy. Look to change automatic bill payments (direct debits) to the day after you receive your benefit payment to ensure bills are paid on time.
Citizens’ Advice claims that people may be able to boost their income through short-term solutions and grants. Your benefits might be affected if your income changes permanently, such as by renting out a spare room. It is a good idea to use a benefits calculator to check how your benefits might be affected.
For more advice, look at some of the resources available with Citizens’ Advice England here. Similar resources that cover people living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are here.