BENEFIT claimants should watch out for payments landing in their bank accounts early this month.
If you get Universal Credit or other benefits then you may not get paid on your usual date.
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This is because on Bank Holiday days, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland won’t pay some payments.
For those living in Scotland, there is a Summer Bank Holiday taking place on Monday August 7.
Those who claim working tax credits or child tax credits in Scotland will therefore get paid today (August 4).
You do not need to do anything, your payment should be made automatically.
Those on state pension, Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and child benefit will not be impacted.
Payments for these benefits will be made as normal – which will usually be on a Monday or Tuesday.
There’s also another Bank Holiday for people to make note of this month.
The August Bank Holiday, which impacts England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will take place on Monday August 28, giving many of us an extra day off.
lt’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
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.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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