As the month of May 2025 approaches, many recipients of State Pension and other Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits in the UK should be aware of changes to their payment dates. These changes are due to two upcoming bank holidays in May, and it’s important to understand how this might impact when you receive your payments.
Early Payment Dates Due to May Bank Holidays
May 2025 will see two significant UK-wide bank holidays:
- Monday, May 5, 2025 (Early May Bank Holiday)
- Monday, May 26, 2025 (Spring Bank Holiday)
For those whose payment dates fall on these holidays, payments will be made in advance to ensure that recipients are not left without their benefits. Here’s what you need to know:
- If your payment was due on May 5, 2025, it will be issued on Friday, May 2, 2025.
- If your payment was due on May 26, 2025, it will be issued on Friday, May 23, 2025.
These changes apply to various benefits provided by the DWP, including the State Pension, Universal Credit, and other allowances. This ensures that recipients won’t face delays or disruptions in their income during the holiday period.
Affected DWP Benefits
Several DWP benefits are impacted by these early payment dates, including:
- State Pension
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
If you receive any of these benefits, it’s essential to check your payment schedule to confirm when you will receive your money, especially if it falls on one of the mentioned bank holidays.
For more detailed information about payment dates for specific benefits, the official Gov.uk website provides comprehensive guidance.
The State Pension Payment Schedule
State Pension payments are typically issued every four weeks, and the day on which you receive your payment depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number. Here’s a breakdown of the typical payment schedule:
- National Insurance numbers ending in 00 to 19: Payments are made on Monday.
- National Insurance numbers ending in 20 to 39: Payments are made on Tuesday.
- National Insurance numbers ending in 40 to 59: Payments are made on Wednesday.
- National Insurance numbers ending in 60 to 79: Payments are made on Thursday.
- National Insurance numbers ending in 80 to 99: Payments are made on Friday.
If your scheduled payment date falls on a bank holiday, your payment will be advanced to the last working day before the holiday. Therefore, if your payment was due on Monday, May 5, it will be issued on Friday, May 2.
The Gov.uk website offers a detailed schedule for when you can expect to receive your State Pension based on your National Insurance number.
Recent Increases to DWP Benefits
In April 2025, most DWP benefits saw an increase in line with the inflation figure from September 2024. This was a standard annual increase, but the State Pension saw a more significant rise, thanks to the government’s triple lock mechanism. This guarantee ensures that the State Pension increases by the highest of three factors: earnings, inflation, or 2.5%.
For the 2025 financial year, the State Pension rose by 4.1%, significantly higher than the 1.7% increase applied to other benefits. This increase will be reflected in the May payments, with recipients seeing the new, higher amounts from that time.
What Should You Do if You Don’t Receive Your Payment?
If your payment is delayed or doesn’t arrive when expected, the first step is to check with your bank. Sometimes payments can be delayed due to internal processing times. If the payment is still not showing up, contact the relevant DWP helpline for assistance.
It’s always a good idea to ensure that your bank account details are up to date with the DWP to avoid any issues with payment processing. You can also sign up for text alerts about your payment dates on the official DWP website.
How to Keep Track of Changes in Payment Dates
As bank holidays can lead to changes in the regular payment schedule, it’s helpful to stay updated on any announcements made by the DWP. You can do this by regularly checking the official Gov.uk page on DWP benefits for any updates on when you can expect to receive your payments.
Conclusion
The changes to State Pension and other DWP benefit payment dates in May 2025 are a result of the upcoming bank holidays, and recipients should be aware of the early payments being made. By knowing when your payment will be issued and keeping an eye on any updates, you can ensure that you don’t face any issues receiving your benefits. Remember to check the official Gov.uk website for further details and keep your personal details up to date with the DWP to avoid payment delays.
