State pension claimants are being reminded of a shake-up by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which could see them get paid at a different date.
With the Easter bank holiday coming next month, those who get paid at the beginning of the month could see their payment date changed.
State pensioners whose payments fall on the Easter bank holidays will have their money deposited early this April, with Thursday, April 2 serving as the revised payment date.
Those normally receiving their State Pension on Good Friday, April 3, or Easter Monday, April 6, will find their funds arriving four days ahead of the latter date.
The Department for Work and Pensions will transfer sums of up to £921 to affected pensioners before the long weekend begins.
Bank holidays routinely cause disruption to the regular payment schedule, requiring some recipients to stretch their finances over a longer period between deposits.
This April presents a double challenge with consecutive bank holidays bookending the weekend.
Whether a pensioner is affected depends on the final two digits of their National Insurance number, which dictates their standard payment day.
Those whose numbers conclude with 00 to 19 typically receive their State Pension on Mondays, whilst individuals with numbers ending in 80 to 99 are ordinarily paid on Fridays.
State pension payment date to change for millions next week
| GETTYBoth groups will see their April payments shifted to Thursday, April 2, as this represents the nearest working day preceding the bank holidays.
The remaining National Insurance endings correspond to midweek payments: 20 to 39 indicates Tuesday, 40 to 59 means Wednesday, and 60 to 79 signifies Thursday.
Pensioners in these categories should receive their payments on their usual days without disruption.
The State Pension is set to increase by 4.8 per cent when the new tax year commences on April 6, though this timing coincides with Easter Monday.
Currently, the full new state pension stands at £230.25 weekly | GETTYRecipients of the full new State Pension will benefit from an additional £575 annually once the uplift takes effect.
Older pensioners claiming the full basic State Pension can expect their yearly income to grow by £439.
However, as the tax year change falls on the bank holiday itself, pensioners must wait several more weeks before seeing the enhanced rates reflected in their actual payments.
The early April payment of up to £921 will therefore still be calculated at the current rates rather than the increased amounts.
State Pension payments are typically issued on a four-weekly cycle
| GETTYPensioners whose payment dates are changing need not take any action, as the DWP will deposit funds directly into their existing bank, building society or credit union accounts.
The DWP states: "Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you'll usually be paid on the working day before."
State Pension payments are typically issued on a four-weekly cycle, with recipients selecting their preferred payment date when first making their claim.
The department confirms that the payment day is determined by an individual's National Insurance number, adding: "You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday."