HMRC has confirmed that Child Benefit payments due in Scotland on Monday, August 3 will instead be paid on Tuesday, August 4, while payments scheduled for Tuesday, August 4 will be issued on Wednesday, August 5. The adjustment is linked to the Scottish August bank holiday, and there is no change for parents in England or Wales.
In a separate move, HMRC and Social Security Scotland have confirmed that Child Benefit payments due on Monday, August 31 will be made early, on Friday, August 28. This ensures families receive their money before the bank holiday weekend, when government offices are closed.
Why are the payment dates changing?
The changes are driven by the Scottish bank holiday schedule. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is also expected to follow the same payment timetable. DWP offices and phone lines will be closed over the August bank holiday, and payments are typically made only when services such as Jobcentre Plus offices and webchat support are available.
HMRC explains that Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, but different payment dates apply if a payment is due on a bank holiday. The authority advises families to check their award notice for the first payment date and to count forward four weeks from that date to work out when the next payment will arrive.
Which benefits are affected at the end of August?
Payments affected at the end of August are expected to include the State Pension, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Child Benefit and Social Security Scotland benefits such as Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The DWP is expected to align its schedule with the same revised dates.
For Scottish families, the early payment on Friday, August 28 means that no benefit payments will be made on the bank holiday Monday, August 31. HMRC and Social Security Scotland have confirmed that the adjustment applies only to Scotland; households in England and Wales will receive their benefits on the usual dates.
How Child Benefit payments normally work
HMRC states that Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks, but weekly payments are available if you are a single parent or if you or your partner receive certain benefits, such as Income Support. The award notice provides the exact first payment date, and subsequent payments can be calculated by adding four weeks.
First-time claimants should note that the initial payment may not arrive for up to 12 weeks, and it can take longer if you have recently moved to the UK. However, Child Benefit is backdated for up to three months. HMRC advises: "Check your award notice to find out when your first payment is due. You can count forward 4 weeks from this date to work out when you’ll get it next."
For those who normally get paid on a Monday or Tuesday, the August bank holiday in Scotland creates a one-day shift. Payments due on Monday, August 3 move to Tuesday, August 4, and payments due on Tuesday, August 4 move to Wednesday, August 5. Later in the month, payments due on Monday, August 31 move forward to Friday, August 28.
What families should do now
HMRC encourages families to check their own payment schedule carefully, especially around the bank holiday. Since the dates differ from the usual four-week cycle, relying on the standard pattern could lead to confusion. HMRC notes: "You can work out when you’re next going to get Child Benefit by counting 4 weeks forward from your last payment. Do not count forward if your payment was due on a bank holiday - the dates are different."
People who receive other DWP or Social Security Scotland benefits, including State Pension, Universal Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance and Adult Disability Payment, should also be aware of the early or delayed payments at the end of August. The schedule change is limited to the August bank holiday period and does not signal any wider alteration to benefit payment systems.
Families in Scotland are advised to plan their budgets around the revised dates, particularly for the final week of August. The early payment on Friday, August 28 will bring money forward, while the early August changes push payments back by one day. No change applies to England or Wales, where standard Child Benefit payment dates remain in force.
