Benefit payment change could affect thousands in May

Benefit and state pension recipients may see a range of changes to their payments in May as the annual increases will kick in for the first time for some and the bank holidays could leave thousands getting payments days earlier than they expected. The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed which payment dates will be changing in May due to the two bank holidays coming up. Anyone expecting payments on Monday May 4th and Monday May 25th may be in for a surprise as a result. Due to banks and DWP offices usually being closed on these days, payments won’t be processed on these days and people expecting benefit or state pension installments will instead get their money on the first working day before the bank holiday. For those due to get payments on May 4th, the first working day before is Friday, May 1st. Similarly, those due to get payments on May 25th will instead receive it on May 22nd, the DWP has confirmed. Benefits that will be affected by both bank holidays: Universal Credit Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Child Benefits Adult Disability Payment (ADP) Attendance Allowance State pension payments will be affected by both bank holidays as well. People expecting these early payments won’t need to do anything and their payments will return to their usual dates from June. It can be harder to budget properly when payment dates shift. This can mean the same amount of money has to stretch over four extra days before your usual payment date arrives, particularly as April’s bank holidays also caused a disruption. Most benefits are paid every four weeks so it’s unlikely that a single person would be affected by both the April and May bank holiday disruptions. However, people on state pension might be. Usually state pension is paid every four weeks but it is possible for people to request weekly payments instead. The day of the week you’ll be paid on corresponds to the final digits of your NI number. People with an NI number ending between 00 and 19 receive their payments on a Monday. Because all of the bank holidays next month fall on Mondays, people receiving their state pension weekly could be affected multiple times. If the bank holidays pass and you still haven’t received your correct benefit or state pension payment you may need to contact the DWP or HMRC helpline. The DWP does recommend double checking your award notice before getting in touch. Benefits and state pension rates officially increased on April 6 at the start of the new tax year, but some people may find themselves getting a mix of old and new rates as their benefit spans a four-week cycle. Universal Credit recipients in particular usually only see the rate rises implemented in May or even June payments as the new figures only kick in once they’ve had a full assessment period that started after April 6.