MILLIONS of people receiving benefits, including Universal Credit and the state pension, will be paid early this month.
This is because of the Spring bank holiday which falls on the Monday, May 26.
1
As a result, benefit payments scheduled for that day will be issued earlier, on Friday, May 23.
It’s important to note that benefit payment dates vary depending on when you first applied and when your claim was approved, so not everyone will be affected.
Many people may have noticed their payments were also disrupted earlier this month because of the Early May bank holiday.
This is usually the case when the payment date falls on Bank holidays, Easter or Christmas.
They are paid early or delayed to fit around this.
In this case Payments will be made early (on Friday, 26) to avoid delays over the long weekend.
Twelve major benefits are affected by these changes.
The benefits include:
This advance payment ensures that recipients are not left short over the bank holiday.
However, it also means you’ll need to budget carefully, as your next payment will still be on its usual date.
If your benefit payment hasn’t arrived as expected, contact the DWP helpline on 0800 328 5644.
You can also file a complaint with the DWP regarding any unpaid benefits.
BANK HOLIDAYS IN 2025
- January 1: New Year’s Day
- April 18: Good Friday
- April 21: Easter Monday
- May 5: Early May Bank Holiday
- May 26: Spring Bank Holiday
- August 25: Summer Bank Holiday
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: Boxing Day
UPCOMING BENEFIT CHANGES
Thousands of households on old-style legacy benefits are being moved to Universal Credit via Managed Migration.
The managed migration process officially began back in July 2022 after a successful pilot in July 2019.
Since then, households receiving one of five legacy benefits, have been receiving postal notifications outlining the steps required to transition to Universal Credit.
Upon receiving a migration letter, claimants are given up to three months to make the switch.
Failure to act within this timeframe could result in the loss of existing benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already closed new claims for four legacy benefits – tax credits, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, and housing benefit.
Households still receiving income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) are now being urged to make the move to Universal Credit.
ESA provides financial support for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Initially, the government planned to transfer all ESA claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2028.
However, this deadline has since been brought forward to March 2026.
HELP CLAIMING UNIVERSAL CREDIT
As well as benefit calculators, anyone moving from Tax Credits to Universal Credit can find help in a number of ways.
You can visit your local Jobcentre by searching at find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/.
There’s also a free service called Help to Claim from Citizen’s Advice:
- England: 0800 144 8 444
- Scotland: 0800 023 2581
- Wales: 08000 241 220
You can also get help online from advisers at citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/.
Will I be better off on Universal Credit?
ANALYSIS by James Flanders, The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter:
Around 1.4million people on legacy benefits will be better off after switching to Universal Credit, according to the government.
A further 300,000 would see no change in payments, while around 900,000 would be worse off under Universal Credit.
Of these, around 600,000 can get top-up payments (transitional protection) if they move under the managed migration process, so they don’t lose out on cash immediately.
The majority of those – around 400,000 – are claiming employment support allowance (ESA).
Around 100,000 are on tax credits, while fewer than 50,000 each on other legacy benefits are expected to be affected.
Those who move voluntarily and are worse off won’t get these top-up payments and could lose cash.
Those who miss the managed migration deadline and later make a claim may not get transitional protection.
The clock starts ticking on the three-month countdown from the date of the first letter, and reminders are sent via post and text message.
There is a one-month grace period after this, during which any claim to Universal Credit is backdated, and transitional protection can still be awarded.
Examples of those who may be entitled to less on Universal Credit include:
- Households getting ESA and the severe disability premium and enhanced disability premium
- Households with the lower disabled child addition on legacy benefits
- Self-employed households who are subject to the Minimum Income Floor after the 12-month grace period has ended
- In-work households that worked a specific number of hours (e.g. lone parent working 16 hours claiming working tax credits
- Households receiving tax credits with savings of more than £6,000 (and up to £16,000)
Either way, if these households don’t switch in the future, they risk missing out on any future benefit increase and seeing payments frozen.