Some Universal Credit recipients are set to receive an unexpected £628 in their bank accounts this Friday. This early payout of benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions is due to the late May Bank Holiday next week. If your usual payment date falls on Monday, then payments will be made on Friday, effectively providing you with early cash. This only affects those whose regular payment date coincides with the Bank Holiday Monday.
If your regular payday isn’t affected, your money will arrive as per usual. The rate for single individuals under 25 is £316, for those over 25 it’s £400, while the rate for couples is either £497.55 or £628, depending on whether both claimants are under 25 or one or both are aged 25 or over.
It’s not just Universal Credit recipients who will get paid early. In fact, 12 benefits are impacted by this May’s date change: Universal Credit, State Pension, Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Guardian’s Allowance also make up the list, reports Birmingham Live.
If you’re due money from any of these and your payment date is Monday, May 26, it should arrive on Friday, May 23 instead. If you were expecting your benefit and it hasn’t arrived, contact the DWP helpline on 0800 328 5644.
This helpline is closed on bank holiday days, but you can contact it on the previous working day or the day after the bank holiday.
And remember: you won’t be paid MORE money. The early payment will be your usually rate – so you will need to make your pennies stretch further over the Bank Holiday weekend into the following week and into June.
Bank holidays in England and Wales include 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 and Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day.
Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day – completes the list.
