Millions of people claiming benefits have been warned of changes to their payment dates next month. Around six million people in the UK are claiming universal credit and have been warned their payments will be changing next month due to the Easter Bank Holiday, the Mirror reports.
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that if you are due to be paid on Friday, April 15, you'll get your money a day early on Thursday, April 14 instead.
If you are due to be paid on Monday, April 18, you'll also be paid on Thursday, April 14 - three days early. This covers most benefits such as tax credits, pension payments and universal credit if your usual payment date falls on a public holiday.
Easter Bank Holiday payment dates
Child Benefit pays £21.15 a week for the first child and £14.95 a week for subsequent children to qualifying parents. From April, it's rising to £21.80 per week and £14.45 per week for additional children.
If you're due to be paid on Friday, April 15, the DWP says you'll be paid on April 14 instead. Likewise, if you're due to be paid on Monday, April 18, you'll receive your payment on April 14 instead.
If your payment date falls on a normal day that's not a bank holiday, then you'll get your payment as normal. All payments are automatic - so you won't need to contact the DWP if you're affected.
Tax credits work as a separate system, and are benefits paid to families who need it most such as those who need help to care for children, are disabled or have low incomes.
There are two types of tax credit – child tax credit and working tax credit. You might be eligible for one or both of them, depending on your circumstances.
Payment dates on the Easter Bank Holiday:
Due: Friday, April 15 Paid: Thursday, April 14
Due: Monday, April 18 Paid: Thursday, April 14
Depending on your ‘assessment period’ the date that you can expect to receive your universal credit will change around Easter.
This period starts on the date when you first made a claim for the benefit, and you will then receive cash each calendar month afterwards. Funds are usually released seven days after the initial assessment period ends.
What about the state pension, ESA, income support, carer's allowance and other benefits over Easter?
As with universal credit, if you are due a payment on either Easter Friday or Easter Monday, the support will come through on the Thursday beforehand instead.
This also applies to attendance allowance, the state pension, carer’s allowance, disability living allowance, employment and support allowance, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit and personal independence payments.
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