State pension payment dates change in May – 2 new dates | Personal Finance | Finance
State pension payments are set to change for some in May as the month welcomes two bank holidays. Several benefits will be affected, and claimants should make themselves aware of the two new dates so they can plan their spending and overall finances accordingly. Brits will enjoy two long weekends in May, one at the start and one at the end. While many will be eagerly awaiting the three days away from work, others on certain benefits will be wondering when their payments will arrive.
The bank holidays fall on Monday, May 4 and Monday, May 25, both on days when state pension payments and other benefits are expected to arrive in bank accounts. The bank holidays take place in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the whole of the UK is affected. On bank holidays, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offices and telephone lines are shut, so payments are not processed on those days. In this instance, payments usually arrive early rather than late.
The new payment dates are expected to be:
- Friday, May 1, for payments due on Monday, May 4.
- Friday, May 22, for payments due on Monday, May 25.
It’s not only the state pension that is affected. The bank holidays will also impact the following benefits for those due to receive payments on those days:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension
- Universal Credit
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that certain scheduled payments due on Monday, May 4, will be issued earlier, and the DWP is expected to follow suit.
While the DWP has not yet announced any changes to payment dates, it usually aligns with HMRC and Social Security Scotland. HMRC payments that are affected are Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance.
In England and Wales, the next bank holiday to affect DWP and HMRC payments after May will be on Monday, August 31. The only bank holidays to come after that are Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
However, in Scotland, there are bank holidays on June 15, August 3 and November 30. In Northern Ireland, there is a bank holiday on July 13.
