Thousands of pensioners across the UK who would normally receive their state pension on Monday received their payments early ahead of the upcoming Spring Bank Holiday.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed payments scheduled for Monday, May 25, were instead processed on Friday because benefits and pensions cannot be paid on a bank holiday.
The change affected pensioners whose National Insurance numbers end between 00 and 19, as these recipients are normally paid on Mondays.
The DWP said payments are automatically moved to the last working day before a bank holiday when the regular payment date cannot be processed.
Despite the earlier payment date, pensioners received the same amount they would normally expect under their standard payment cycle.
Following April's annual increase under the triple lock, the full basic state pension now stands at £184.90 a week. Over a standard four-week payment period, that amounts to £739.60 being paid into pensioners' accounts.
Those receiving the newer state pension are entitled to a higher amount, with the full rate currently set at £241.30 a week.
That means pensioners on the full new state pension can receive approximately £965.20 every four weeks. The latest increase came into effect on April 6, 2026, representing a 4.8 per cent rise under the Government's triple-lock commitment.
DWP brings forward state pension payments ahead of Spring Bank Holiday
| GETTYMillions of pensioners across Britain benefited from the increase, which is designed to help maintain pension payments alongside inflation and wage growth.
According to Labour, state pensions and benefits are usually paid directly into bank, building society or credit union accounts.
Payment dates are determined by the final two digits of a claimant's National Insurance number.
Those with numbers ending between 00 and 19 receive payments on Mondays. Recipients with National Insurance numbers ending between 20 and 39 are paid on Tuesdays.
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Are you affected by state pension age changes? | GBNThose whose numbers end between 40 and 59 receive payments on Wednesdays, while claimants ending between 60 and 79 are paid on Thursdays.
People with National Insurance numbers ending between 80 and 99 receive their payments on Fridays.
The Spring Bank Holiday only affected pensioners in the Monday payment group because their usual payment date fell directly on the bank holiday.
Payments are only brought forward when the scheduled date falls on a bank holiday or weekend.
The DWP confirmed pensioners do not need to take any action in order to receive the adjusted payment.
The money is transferred automatically into the claimant's usual account without requiring any contact with the department.
For pensioners whose National Insurance numbers end between 20 and 99, payments next week will continue on their normal scheduled dates because these do not fall on the bank holiday.
The DWP has previously stated new state pension claimants are asked when they would like payments to begin, with the first payment arriving no later than five weeks after the selected start date.
After the initial payment, pensioners then continue to receive full payments every four weeks on their designated weekday.
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