Universal Credit claimants to receive unexpected payment in just days | Personal Finance | Finance

Millions of Universal Credit claimants will see their benefit payments land earlier than expected this week due to the upcoming bank holiday. Payments due on the 25th of the month will instead be transferred on Friday, August 22, as benefits are not typically processed over weekends or bank holidays.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that while the date will change, the amount received will remain the same, unless a claimant’s personal circumstances have altered. However, households are being warned to budget carefully as receiving the payment early means the money will need to stretch further before the next instalment.

Claimants are urged to plan ahead to avoid running out of funds before their next payment date.

Anyone expecting an early payment who does not receive it on Friday should first check their usual payment schedule and contact their bank.

If the issue is not resolved, claimants are advised to get in touch with the DWP directly or file a complaint. Guidance on how benefits are paid is available on the Government’s website.

This won’t be the only early payment this year. In December, anyone expecting benefits on Christmas Day or Boxing Day will instead be paid on Christmas Eve (December 24).

The latest update comes as the DWP continues its Managed Migration programme, which is moving people on so-called “legacy benefits” over to Universal Credit.

The process officially began in July 2022 and is expected to be complete by March 2026, two years earlier than first planned.

Tax credits, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Housing Benefit have already closed to new claims. People still receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will also be transferred across by the 2026 deadline. ESA provides financial help to those unable to work due to illness or disability.

Households receiving a migration notice have three months to make the switch to Universal Credit. Failure to do so could result in payments being stopped.

Meanwhile, many claimants may be entitled to extra support through the Household Support Fund, which helps struggling households with essentials.

The latest figures show that a record eight million people across the UK are now claiming Universal Credit.