Benefit payments will be early due to bank holiday
BENEFIT payment dates for many will be earlier this month because of the bank holiday.
Most of the UK – except for Scotland – will have a bank holiday on the last Monday of the month – August 26.
This means there will be changes to scheduled payments and the Department for Work and Pensions has issued advice to let people know that their money will appear on different dates for this month.
“If a payment date is on a bank holiday or a weekend, customers will be paid on the last working day before the bank holiday or weekend,” it explains.
These are the dates for when you’ll be paid in August for each benefit:
Tax Credits
This payment is made every week or every four weeks.
Instead of being paid on Monday, August 26, the payment is due instead on Friday, August 23.
If the payment is late, check the date on your award notice and contact your bank before getting in touch with HMRC.
However, banks will most likely have restricted customer service hours on bank holidays.
Child benefit
Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
The payment would be due on August 26, but will instead be paid on Friday, August 23.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit, which is replacing benefits in stages across the UK, is paid once a month.
Like other benefits, if your payment would usually fall on Monday, August 26, you will be paid instead on the working day before, which is Friday, August 23.
If you don’t receive your payment it’s advised to contact your bank firstly, however if you do need to get in touch with Universal Credit, the following are the free numbers to contact.
Universal Credit live service: 0800 328 9344 (this replaces 0345 600 0723)
Universal Credit full service: 0800 328 5644 (this replaces 0345 600 4272)
Textphone for those with hearing problems: 0800 328 1344
Call between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on bank holidays).