Millions of people receiving benefits and the State Pension should receive their money on their usual payment dates in October. There are no UK-wide bank holidays during the month, so the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is not expected to make any changes to its normal payment schedule because of a public holiday. This means people claiming Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance should receive their money as normal.
However, not everyone gets paid on the same day. The date depends on which benefit a person receives and their individual payment schedule. Universal Credit is usually paid once a month, on the same date. Claimants can check when their next payment is due by signing into their online account.
PIP, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are normally paid every four weeks. Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance are generally paid every two weeks, while Carer’s Allowance can be paid weekly or every four weeks.
If a payment is due on a Saturday or Sunday, the money will usually arrive on the working day before. Different arrangements can apply to Child Benefit.
State Pension payments will also follow their usual schedule throughout October.
The State Pension is normally paid every four weeks, with the payment day determined by the last two digits of a person’s National Insurance number.
Those whose National Insurance numbers end between 00 and 19 are normally paid on a Monday, while numbers ending between 20 and 39 are paid on a Tuesday.
Anyone whose National Insurance number ends between 80 and 99 is normally paid on a Friday. For example, a pensioner whose National Insurance number ends in 45 would usually receive their payment on a Wednesday.
The exact date will depend on their four-week payment cycle, meaning pensioners with the same payment day will not necessarily receive their money in the same week.
Anyone unsure when their next State Pension payment is due can check their award letter. People who do not receive their benefit or pension on the expected date should contact the office responsible for their payment.
Universal Credit claimants can check their online account or contact the DWP through their journal, while pensioners can contact the Pension Service if their money has not arrived.
With no UK-wide bank holidays falling in October, most people receiving benefits and the State Pension should see no change to their usual payment arrangements.
