Benefits and pension recipients will be paid earlier than usual this week ahead of the Spring Bank Holiday. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay eligible claimants three days early this month, as the Bank Holiday falls on Monday, May 25.
The schedule shake-up means payments will be made on Friday, May 22, instead, including for Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit.
The official Government website states: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
“If your payment date is on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
DWP benefits including PIP rose by 3.8% last month, while Universal Credit increased by varying amounts depending on the different elements claimed.
The full state pension also rose to £241.30 a week in April, with the basic state pension increasing to £184.90, in line with the triple lock guarantee.
The Government urged those claiming benefits or the state pension to check their payment dates to ensure they aren’t caught off guard ahead of the three-day weekend.
The day state pensions are paid out depends on the last two digits of a claimant’s National Insurance number.
Those with numbers ending 00 to 19 are paid on Mondays, 20 to 39 on Tuesdays, 40 to 59 on Wednesdays, 60 to 79 on Thursdays and 80 to 99 on Fridays.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends.”