Payment dates for benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be altered this month due to the August bank holiday on Monday, 26 August, which affects England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
HMRC has confirmed that Child Benefit and Tax Credits due on that date will instead be paid into bank accounts on Friday, 23 August. The DWP is expected to announce similar changes for State Pension and benefits including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
According to DWP guidance, Universal Credit is paid monthly, usually into a bank, building society, or credit union account. If the payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, it is paid on the previous working day. Recipients can request an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) if they need help managing a single monthly payment.
State Pension and DWP benefits are normally processed on days when offices and phone lines are open. As bank holidays close these services, payments are made on the last working day before the holiday.
