16 February 2024 , 11:08
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that benefit payment dates will change next month.
As with every year, the two Easter bank holidays mean that benefit payment dates will affect Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance etc. This year Easter takes place on Sunday, March 31, meaning Friday, March 29, is Good Friday and Easter Monday is April 1.
As the DWP does not make benefit payments on bank holidays if you’re due a payment on one of these days, you may find you get paid on a different date - usually, it will be the working day before. A DWP spokesperson told the Mirror that those set to receive their benefit payment on Good Friday will actually be paid on Thursday, March 28 instead. This will also be the case for claimants who are due payments on Easter Monday too.
If you're due to be paid on a different day, you won't need to do anything - the money will be paid into your account as normal. Even though being paid early may sound great you should be aware that the amount you will receive will remain the same. This means you will need to make your money stretch until your next payment date.
Here is a full list of benefits affected by the bank holiday and how often they are paid:
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Attendance Allowance - Usually every four weeks
Carer’s Allowance - Weekly in advance or every four weeks
Child Benefit - Usually every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits
Disability Living Allowance - Usually every four weeks
Employment and Support Allowance - Usually every two weeks
Income Support - Usually every two weeks
Jobseeker’s Allowance - Usually every two weeks
Pension Credit - Usually every four weeks
Personal Independence Payment - Usually every four weeks
State Pension - Usually every four weeks
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Tax credits - Every four weeks or weekly
Universal Credit - Every month
If you don't get your benefit payment when you expected to, first check double-check the date on your award notice and your bank account. If you've got the right date, and the money isn't there, you should contact the relevant helpline. However, you should be aware that the helpline is likely not open on the bank holiday itself - so you should try and contact them the day your benefit payment should've been paid - usually helplines are open from 8am until 5pm Monday to Friday.