DWP confirms benefit payment change to hit thousands in May | Personal Finance | Finance
Recipients of benefits and state pension could see a number of changes to their payments in May, as annual increases take effect for the first time for some claimants, while bank holidays could leave thousands receiving payments several days earlier than anticipated.
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed which payment dates will be altered in May owing to the two upcoming bank holidays. Those expecting payments on Monday 4th May and Monday 25th May may find themselves in for a surprise as a result.
As banks and DWP offices are typically closed on these dates, payments will not be processed and those anticipating benefit or state pension instalments will instead receive their money on the last working day prior to the bank holiday.
For those scheduled to receive payments on 4th May, the last working day before is Friday 1st May. Likewise, those due payments on 25th May will instead receive them on 22nd May, the DWP has confirmed.
Benefits that will be affected by both bank holidays:
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Child Benefits
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
- Attendance Allowance
State pension payments will also be impacted by both bank holidays. Those expecting these early payments need not take any action, and their payments will revert to their usual schedule from June onwards. Budgeting can become more challenging when payment dates are altered. This means the same sum of money must cover four additional days before your regular payment date arrives, especially as April’s bank holidays also created disruption.
The majority of benefits are distributed every four weeks, so it’s unlikely that a person would be impacted by both the April and May bank holiday interruptions. Nevertheless, those receiving state pension might be.
Typically, state pension is disbursed every four weeks, though it’s possible for people to request weekly payments as an alternative. The day of the week you receive payment corresponds to the final digits of your NI number.
People with an NI number ending between 00 and 19 receive their payments on a Monday. Since all of the bank holidays next month occur on Mondays, those receiving their state pension weekly could be affected on multiple occasions.
Should the bank holidays pass without you receiving your correct benefit or state pension payment, you may need to contact the DWP or HMRC helpline. The DWP does advise checking your award notice thoroughly before making contact.
Benefits and state pension rates officially rose on April 6 at the beginning of the new tax year, though some people may find themselves receiving a combination of old and new rates as their benefit covers a four-week period.
Those claiming Universal Credit in particular typically don’t see the increased rates reflected until their May or even June payments, as the revised figures only take effect once a complete assessment period that commenced after 6th April has elapsed.
