DWP confirms major change to Universal Credit and state pension payments in just hours

Joe Sledge
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:26:09 +0000

Thousands of benefit claimants and state pensioners are set to see their payment dates change in May due to two bank holidays.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that payments due on May 4 and May 25 will instead be made earlier, as banks and Government offices will be closed on those dates.

Anyone expecting money on those Mondays will receive it on the preceding Friday, meaning payments scheduled for May 4 will arrive on May 1, and those due on May 25 will be paid on May 22.

Benefits affected include Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Child Benefit, Adult Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance. State pension payments will also be brought forward.

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Claimants do not need to take any action, with payments issued automatically and normal schedules expected to resume from June.

Most benefits are paid every four weeks, meaning many recipients will only see one change.

However, some state pensioners may experience multiple adjustments, particularly those who receive weekly payments.

Changes to payment dates can make budgeting more difficult, as the same amount must last longer until the next scheduled payment. Similar disruption occurred in April due to earlier bank holidays.

Weekly state pension payments are issued based on the final two digits of a recipient’s National Insurance number, with those ending between 00 and 19 typically paid on Mondays.

As both May bank holidays fall on a Monday, these recipients may see more than one change.

Those paid every four weeks are less likely to face repeated disruption.

If a payment does not arrive as expected after the bank holiday, claimants may need to contact the DWP or HMRC.

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Officials advise checking award notices first to confirm payment details.

Benefit and state pension rates increased from April 6 at the start of the new tax year.

Some payments may include a combination of old and updated rates, as benefits are often calculated across a four‑week period that spans the increase.

Universal Credit claimants may not see the higher rates reflected until May or June, as updated amounts only apply after a full assessment period beginning after April 6 has been completed.