The DWP and HMRC do not pay benefit payments on bank holidays – so you may end up being paid earlier than expected this Easter
Benefit payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC may arrive early for some people next week due to the Easter bank holidays. The first bank holiday is Good Friday on April 18, then the second one is Easter Monday on April 21.
If you’re due a benefit payment on either on these days, you should get paid the previous working day. This is because the DWP and HMRC do not pay benefit payments on bank holidays. Universal Credit is paid on the same day each month. If you are due to be paid Universal Credit on Friday, April 18, or Monday, April 21, you will be paid on Thursday, April 17 instead.
Child Benefit is usually every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday – so you’d only be affected by the Easter Monday bank holiday day. If you’re due a Child Benefit payment on Monday, April 21, you will receive your money on Thursday, April 17 instead. If you do get paid earlier, you will have to make your money last longer as you’ll have a longer wait until your next payment.
When are benefits normally paid?
- 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
- Tax credits – Every four weeks or weekly
- Universal Credit – Every month
What if I don’t get paid?
If you think you haven’t been paid, first make sure you double check your bank account. If you’ve got the right payment date, and the money isn’t there, you should contact the relevant helpline. But keep in mind these are unlikely to be open on bank holidays.
Universal Credit
- Call for free: 0800 328 9344
- Welsh speaking: 0800 012 1888
- Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Child Benefit
- Call for free: 0300 200 3100
- Outside UK: +44 161 210 3086
Tax Credits
- Call HMRC for free: 0345 300 3900
- From outside the UK: +44 2890 538 192
Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance
- Call for free: 0800 169 0310
- Textphone: 0800 169 0314
- Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
Bank holidays in England and Wales
- Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 5 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 26 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 25 – Summer bank holiday
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day
Bank holidays in Scotland
- Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Thursday, January 2 – January 2
- Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
- Monday, May 5 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 26 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 4 – Summer bank holiday
- Monday, December 1 – St Andrew’s Day
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day
Bank holidays in Northern Ireland
- Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Monday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day
- Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 5 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 26 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, July 14 – Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
- Monday, August 25 – Summer bank holiday
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day
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