Unexpected payment for thousands on Universal Credit, state pension and other benefits next week – are you affected?

THOUSANDS of households claiming Universal Credit, the state pension and benefits will receive an unexpected payment next week.

This is because when the day payments are due falls on a bank holiday or the weekend, payments are made on the first working day before.

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The summer bank holiday means that benefits will be paid early to those who would have received them on Monday, August 26.

Those who would have got the funds on this date will receive their money on Friday, August 23 instead - the first working day before the bank holiday weekend.

Official government guidance states: "Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.

"If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you'll usually be paid on the working day before."

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC have confirmed the following benefits will be paid early in August:

• Attendance allowance
• Carer's allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Income support
• Jobseeker's allowance
• Pension credit
• Personal independence payment (PIP)
• State pension
• Universal Credit
• Child benefit
• Tax credits

If you don't receive your benefit payment one working day before the August bank holiday, contact the DWP directly.

If your payment is wrong, you also have the option to submit a complaint to have it rectified.

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The benefit amount won't change if it's paid early unless there's been a change in circumstances which impacts how much you are due.

If you do get paid early in August, make sure you budget accordingly as the wait between that payment and the next one will be slightly longer than usual.

What are the payment dates for other bank holidays in 2024?

After August, there are two more bank holidays before the end of the year.

Again, these could impact when you receive your benefit payments.

Here's when the DWP or HMRC will make your payments:

• December 25 - payments will be made on December 24 instead
• December 26 - payments will be made on December 24 instead

OTHER BENEFITS CHANGES

Tens of thousands on old-style legacy benefits are being moved to Universal Credit via what is known as "managed migration".

In total, the Government is transitioning two million to Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

The vast majority will be moved by March 2025.

The process started being rolled out in May last year after a successful pilot in July 2019.

Households are being contacted via letters which tell them how to make the move from their old benefit to Universal Credit.

Once you receive a letter, you have three months to move over, or you could lose your current benefits.

You can read more about the process and who is impacted here.

Those claiming housing benefit was asked to move across last month.

Housing benefit is paid to households struggling to pay rent due to unemployment or a low income.

Earlier this month, all those who claims benefits were urged to check they had been receiving the correct payments after the National Audit Office (NAO) found that claimants received £4.2billion less than they were entitled to last year.

Exclusive figures shared with The Sun in April revealed that £23billion worth of means-tested benefits and social tariffs could go unclaimed this financial year.

The £23billion includes more than £8billion Universal Credit, £3.4billion Council Tax Support, nearly £2.3billion Carer’s Allowance, more than £2billion Pension Credit and £1.7billion child benefit.

The total estimate is up by £4billion compared with last year, and is partly down to some benefits being increased in line with inflation.

If it also included unclaimed disability benefits and some other discretionary payments, it could top £30billion, according to Policy in Practice founder Deven Ghelani.

If you are struggling financially you could be one of the thousands of households due automatic cash and voucher payments worth up to £220.

The cash grant is available under the government's Household Support Fund (HSF).

The HSF provides financial help to struggling households, and has been extended several times since it was first introduced by the Government in 2021.

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Funding is given out to local councils to distribute to those most in need in their area, so the support available varies across the country and what you can get depends on where you live.

For example households in Kingston could be entitled to £500 payments towards food, fuel and essentials.