The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is altering payment dates for Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), State Pension, and other benefits before June. This change comes as DWP offices and phone lines will be closed for the upcoming bank holiday.
Payment Date Adjustments for May Bank Holiday
The DWP has confirmed that scheduled payments originally due on Monday, May 25 will be processed earlier. Offices and phone lines will be closed on the bank holiday, and payments are typically handled only when all services, including webchat and Jobcentre Plus offices, are operational.
As a result, payments for benefits such as State Pension, Universal Credit, PIP, Child Benefits, and Attendance Allowance that fall on May 25 will be deposited into bank accounts on Friday, May 22. If your payment date is not May 25, it will be issued as usual.
Affected Benefits
The payments impacted include Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Pension Credit, PIP, State Pension, and Universal Credit. Additionally, HMRC payments due on May 25 will also be made on May 22.
Recipients are advised to check their bank statements for references such as “DWP Pension” or “HMRC Child Benefit.” For Universal Credit claimants, the DWP recommends checking the online account for exact payment dates.
If a payment seems delayed, the DWP suggests first contacting your bank, then reaching out to DWP or HMRC if necessary.
Future Bank Holidays
This adjustment is not the last for the year. Upcoming bank holidays include August 3 and 4 (Scotland only), August 31, December 28, and December 29 (Northern Ireland only). Regional public holidays in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee) and Northern Ireland may also affect payment timing.
A DWP spokesperson stated, “Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends.”
