DWP says state pensioners paid £965.20 on Friday with two-digit code | Personal Finance | Finance
With another bank holiday weekend fast approaching, this means that benefit and state pension claimants could see their payments arrive a little earlier than usual. If claimants have certain two-digit codes, they could see their payments hit their bank accounts as early as this Friday.
The full state pension rose to £241.30 a week in April, meaning state pensioners can expect to be paid around £965.20 at the end of this month. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that eligible claimants can expect to see payments three days early this month, as the Bank Holiday falls on Monday, May 25. This also applies to Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit.
The Government website says: “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.”
Claimants can confirm if their payment date is affected by this by checking the two digits at the end of their National Insurance number.
Those with numbers ending in 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. The rules are different for those living abroad.
The Government urged people receiving benefits or the state pension to check their payment dates, so they are not caught out ahead of the upcoming three-day weekend.
The basic state pension, which is usually paid every 4 weeks into an account of your choice, also increased to £184.90 a week in April, in line with the triple lock guarantee.
DWP benefits, including PIP, increased by 3.8% last month, while Universal Credit payments rose by differing amounts depending on the elements being claimed.
A DWP spokesperson stated: “Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends.”
The Department for Work and Pensions followed a similar system earlier this month as recipients were paid three days early before the first bank holiday. Payments including pensions, Universal Credit and other DWP support landed in claimants’ bank accounts, building societies or credit union accounts on Friday, May 1.
