BANK holidays can affect your Universal Credit, PIP and ESA payment dates.
Here’s everything you need to know for the current May bank holiday and how it might affect you…
1
When is the next May bank holiday?
The second spring bank holiday falls tomorrow on Monday, May 25.
It’s the second of two May bank holidays, the first being on VE Day, Friday, May 8.
Here’s how the extra days off work will affect your benefit payments:
Will my benefits be affected by the May bank holiday?
Households who would expect the payments to land in their accounts on Monday, May 25, will actually be paid on the last working day before the bank holiday.
In this instance, you will be paid your tax credits on Friday, May 22.
How to contact the DWP for help
WHAT number you call depends on what type of benefit you need help with.
Universal Credit:
- Call for free: 0800 328 9344
- Welsh speaking: 0800 012 1888
- Those with hearing problems can textphone on: 0800 328 1344
Lines are open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
Child benefit:
- Call for free: 0300 200 3100
- Outside UK: +44 161 210 3086
You’ll need your National Insurance number or child benefit number with you when you call.
Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am until 8pm and on Saturdays from 8am until 4pm.
Tax credits:
- Call HMRC for free: 0345 300 3900
- From outside the UK: +44 2890 538 192
Lines open from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am until 4pm on Saturday.
The helpline isn’t open on bank holidays.
Other benefits:
- Call for free: 0800 328 9344
- Welsh speaking: 0800 328 1744
- Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Lines open 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
The same applies to Universal Credit payments, which are normally paid on the same day every month.
If you’re usually paid on the 25th of the month then you should also receive your money early.
Those that would normally be paid on Monday, May 25, will actually receive the payout Friday, May 22.
All other benefit payments will also follow the same changes, including PIP and ESA.
When can I expect my payment?
Universal Credit:
- Due: Saturday, May 23
- Paid: Friday, May 22
- Due: Sunday, May 24
- Paid: Friday, May 22
- Due: Monday, May 25 (Bank Holiday)
- Paid: Friday, May 22
PIP:
- Due: Monday, May 25 (Bank Holiday)
- Paid: Friday, May 22
ESA:
- Due: Monday, May 25 (Bank Holiday)
- Paid: Friday, May 22
Will the amount I’m paid change?
You will receive the same amount of benefits that you normally do, even if you’re paid early.
The DWP says that you don’t need to do anything in order to be paid early.
Remember though, being paid earlier than normal means that you’ll need to make it stretch an extra day.
Make sure you take this into account when working out your household budgets.
What if my payment is delayed this bank holiday?
If your payment is not paid on time then you should double-check the date on your award notice and contact your bank before calling HMRC.
Almost one million Brits applied for Universal Credit in a two-week period due to coronavirus – up from the usual 100,000.
But it’s meant huge delays trying to sign up for the benefit both online and over the phone
The government has confirmed that debt payments on benefits will be paused during the coronavirus crisis, giving a boost to millions on benefits.
If something’s not right, you can also submit a complaint to the DWP.
What other bank holidays could affect my benefit payments?
There are a number of bank holidays throughout the year, with the next one being in August.
Here is a list of the rest for 2020:
- July 13 – payment on July 10 (Northern Ireland only)
- August 3 – payment on July 31 (Scotland only)
- August 31 – payment on August 28
- December 25 – payment on December 24
- December 28 – payment on December 24
- December 29 – payment on December 24 (Northern Ireland only)
- January 1, 2021 – payment on December 31
- January 4, 2021 – payment on December 31 (Scotland only)
