THOUSANDS of households that claim Universal credit and other benefits will be paid early this week – getting their money TOMORROW.
It's all because of the May bank holiday, which disrupts the regular discharge of cash.
If you are expecting to be paid on Monday, you'll be paid tomorrow instead.
That's because it's the last working day BEFORE the bank holiday.
So instead of leaving you to wait until offices reopen again, the government will make sure claimants get their funds before shutting up shop for the long weekend.
And it means you're not left out of pocket if you're affected.
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Not everybody gets paid on the same day though, so not all will have to worry about the change.
Your usual payment date depends on when you first applied for Universal Credit and when your application was approved.
Most people receive their first payment seven days after the end of their initial assessment period.
If that date falls on the bank holiday, you'll get the money on the previous working day instead, which happens to be Friday in this case.
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It's a welcomed early cash surprise for many, but the only problem is you'll have a longer wait for your next payment, which could throw off your budgeting.
When will I get my Universal Credit and other benefit payments?
If you are usually paid on the 2nd of the month, this time around you'll get your money early.
For the month of May it falls on Monday, which is a bank holiday in England and Wales.
So the May 2 payment will instead be made on April 29, the last working day before the holiday.
It's not the only change you might expect for your payments though this year.
We've plenty more bank holidays on the way.
This year, the next three bank holidays are on:
- Monday, May 2 – Early May bank holiday
- Thursday, June 2 – Spring bank holiday
- Friday, June 3 – Platinum Jubilee bank holiday
Households who usually get their payments on those dates will get their money slightly earlier than usual.
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed it will be transferred on the previous working day, in each case.
That means claimants who would expect to be paid on June 2 or 3 will receive their cash on June 1 instead too.
Will the amount change?
The amount you get paid shouldn't change even if you get paid a few days earlier.
It will be the same as previous months, unless you've had a change of circumstances that affects how much you get at the same time.
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank before calling DWP.
Though if something's not right, you can also submit a complaint to the DWP.
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There's an even bigger benefit change to come next month, as more than a million Brits begin moving on to Universal Credit.
And thousands of households who already get Universal Credit could be eligible for extra payments worth up to £7,500 a year.
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