THOUSANDS on Universal Credit and 11 other benefits can expect early payments this month.
Benefits are paid into your bank or building society account earlier if your usual payment date falls on a bank holiday or the weekend.
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The next bank holiday is on Monday, August 25, meaning if you’re expecting a payment on this date it will be made on August 22.
So, if you check your statement on August 22 and notice a surprise amount of money, it will likely be your benefit being issued earlier.
If you are paid earlier than usual this month, make sure the money stretches further as you will have to wait longer than normal to get your next payment.
Universal Credit and 11 other benefits are paid on the first working day before a bank holiday. The full list is:
Anyone paid one of the above 12 benefits on August 22 instead of August 23, 24 or 25, should receive the same amount as usual.
The only reason the payment amount might change is if you have had a change in your circumstances.
For example, if you are on Universal Credit and your earnings have increased, your payment might go down.
If you are expecting a payment on August 22 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.
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 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
Upcoming changes to Universal Credit and PIP
Last month, the Government U-turned on its welfare bill meaning Brits on Universal Credit and PIP will see fewer changes.
Sir Keir Starmer had been hoping to push through reforms that would have seen some benefit claimants receiving less money.
The Government had planned to make major changes to the health element of Universal Credit.
A single person who is aged 25 or over can receive the basic level of the benefit, which comes in at £400.14 every month.
But those getting an incapacity top-up due to a disability or long-term condition can get an extra £423.37.
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.
The new plans mean that anyone up to the age of 22 will not be able to claim the health element.
Ministers had also tried to freeze the payment for the next four years but a commitment was made for it to go up with inflation.
That means people claiming the health element of Universal Credit and new claimants with the most severe conditions will see their incomes protected in real terms.
Meanwhile, PIP claimants would have faced stricter tests to qualify for support.
The Government had put forward that people would need to score four points in one task such as washing and dressing to qualify for support.
Currently they can qualify with eight points across multiple activities.
The Government initially partially u-turned, saying the changes would come into effect in November 2026, but anyone claiming the benefit before this date would not be impacted.
However, following a rebellion from 47 MPs, the Government shelved the PIP plans entirely. You can find out more in our guide.
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