Universal Credit, PIP, and other benefit claimants may find their payments affected by the Easter bank holidays this weekend.
Both Good Friday, March 29, and Easter Monday, April 1, are bank holidays where payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) won't be made.
If you are due to receive a DWP benefit payment on either day, you may find you receive your payment on a different day.
While you may be paid earlier in some cases, the money will also have to last you longer, as payment dates will return to normal after the Easter bank holiday weekend.
If your payment is due on either Good Friday, it is likely you will receive the payment on Thursday, March 28.
The same is true for those expecting a payment on Easter Monday.
If you’re payment is due on a different day, it will arrive in your account as normal and the amount you are due to be paid will remain the same.
These are the benefits that may be affected by the Easter bank holiday weekend:
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child benefit
- Disability living allowance
- Employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
- Pension credit
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- State pension
- Tax credits
- Universal credit
DWP Universal Credit payments to increase
Millions of people in who receive Universal Credit will see their payments from the DWP increase next month.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that DWP Universal Credit payments would be rising in the new financial year during 2023’s autumn statement.
At that time, Mr Hunt told MPs in the House of Commons that the Government would increase Universal Credit and other benefits by 6.7 per cent, in line with September’s inflation figures.
The increase, which comes into force from April 1, will be worth an “average £470 for 5.5 million households”, the Chancellor said.
Pensioners set for £900 increase
Pensioners will see their state pension increase by up to £900 next month, as an announcement made at last year’s autumn statement comes into effect.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed that the triple lock on pensions would be honoured, with state pensions set to rise from April 1.
Under the triple lock – which guarantees an increase in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest - pensions will increase by 8.5 per cent next month.
He told MPs: "The triple lock has helped lift 250,000 older people out of poverty since its inception in 2011.
"It has been a lifeline for many during times of inflation.
"We honour our commitment to the triple lock in full. We will increase the new state pension by 8.5 per cent, worth up to £900 more a year."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel