THOUSANDS can expect to see their benefit payments made earlier than usual next month.
Benefits are paid the first working day before if they are due on a bank holiday or the weekend.
It means those expecting benefit payments on August 26 will actually see payments land in their accounts on August 23.
Anyone expecting them on August 24 or 25 will also receive their money on August 23.
The Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have confirmed the following benefits will be made early in August:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseekers Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
- State pension
- Universal Credit
- Child benefit (paid by HMRC)
- Tax credits (paid by HMRC)
Bear in mind, it's normal protocol that if you are due to receive a benefit payment on a weekend, it is usually paid the first working day before.
If you are expecting your benefit payment on August 23 next month and don't receive it, contact the DWP.
You can also submit a complaint to the Government department to get a problem sorted if your payment is wrong.
What you will be paid next month won't change, unless there has been a change in circumstances.
A change in circumstances can affect your benefit entitlement.
If you do get paid early in August, and on any bank holiday, make sure you budget accordingly.
The gap between the early payment and the next one will be longer than usual and the same amount of money has to stretch further.
What are the payment dates for other bank holidays in 2024?
After August, there are two more bank holidays before the end of the year which could impact when you receive your benefits.
Here's when the DWP or HMRC will make your payments:
- December 25 - payments will be made on December 24 instead
- December 26 - payments will be made on December 24 instead
Other upcoming benefits changes
Tens of thousands on old-style legacy benefits are being moved to Universal Credit via Managed Migration.
In total, the Government is transitioning two million to Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
The vast majority will be moved by March 2025.
The process started being rolled out in May last year after a successful pilot in July 2019.
Households are being contacted via letters which tell them how to make the move from their old benefit to Universal Credit.
Once you receive a letter, you have three months to move over, or you could lose your current benefits.
You can read more about the process and who is impacted here.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.