MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit and benefits could get their payments ahead of the upcoming Bank Holiday next month.
The August Bank Holiday will take place on Monday August 28, giving many of us an extra day off.
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But if you get Universal Credit or other benefits then you may not get paid on your usual date.
This is because on Bank Holiday days, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) won’t pay any payments.
ll be similar to how benefits were paid during May’s Bank Holidays.
So you won’t be paid on August 28, even if that’s the date your benefit is due.
Instead, you’ll probably see your cash land in your bank account a few days before – most likely Friday August 25.
If you get any of the following benefits, then you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State pension
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Child Benefit
- Guardian’s Allowance
Bear in mind that as your payment will be made earlier in August, make sure you’ve budgeted for the following month.
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Income Support, jobseekers’s allowance and pension credit payments usually arrive every two weeks while the rest arrive every four weeks.
Will my benefit payment amount change?
No, the amount you’re due should remain the same.
It will only be different if you’ve had a change in circumstances since your last payment, which you’ll need to alert the DWP of.
You don’t need to do anything if your usual date for getting the state pension falls on a bank holiday.
Don’t forget that if you get paid early then you’ll have to make the money you get go further as you’ll have extra days to wait until your next payment date.
Make sure you factor this into your budget.
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double-check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank.
Failing that, you should contact the DWP.
You can also submit a complaint to the DWP over any unpaid benefits.
What other benefit changes might there be?
Payments for Scottish parents – act now
If you are living in Scotland have a child born between 1 March 2018 and 28 February 2019, you might be able to get a School Age Payment of £294.70.
Applications first opened on June 1, 2022. They’ll close on 29 February 2024 but it’s worth applying for the cash now so you don’t forget.
You can spend this money on anything you need for your child at this age. This could include:
- Clothes
- School trips
- Stationery for school
30 hours free childcare – July 21 deadline
Parents who have a child who has turned or is set to turn three between April 1 2023 and August 31 2023 can take up the offer of 30 hours of free childcare for working families.
You need to apply before July 31.
It usually takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to seven days.
Renew tax credit claims – July 31 deadline
Hundreds of thousands of households have just weeks left to reapply for tax credits or face having their payments.
Households have until July 31 to check the information in their renewal pack is correct and respond to HMRC.
Anyone on tax credits also needs to inform the taxman of any changes to their circumstances which might affect their claim.
Eligible households should have received a letter in the post between May 2 and June 15.
Universal Credit childcare boost
The amount of childcare cash parents on Universal Credit can claim went up from £646 to £951 for one child, and from £1,108 to £1,630 for two on June 28.
However, it’s important to note that while the new rates have already come into force, most won’t see their payments rise until August.
This is because of the way in which the assessment period for Universal Credit work.
For example, if your assessment period started after June 28, you should see an increase at the beginning of August.
And if your assessment period started before June 28, you should see the increase in the middle or end of August.
We’ve got the full list of other benefit changes to look out for here.
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