Millions of households in receipt of Universal Credit, child benefit, tax credits and more government support have been warned their payment dates will change over Easter as a result of the two seasonal bank holidays.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) - which manages the payments - has revealed the key dates for your diary over the spring holiday.
The DWP said that if you are due to be paid on Friday April 15, you'll get your money a day early on Thursday April 14 instead.
If you are due to be paid on Monday April 18, you'll also be paid on Thursday April 14 - three days early.
This covers most benefits such as tax credits, pension payments and Universal Credit if your usual payment date falls on a public holiday.
A similar change will happen over the May Bank Holiday and for the public holidays marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
For the former, if your payment date lands on Monday, May 2, you can expect your cash on Friday, April 29, owing to the public holiday.
Similarly, for the latter, if your payment date falls on Thursday, June 2 or Friday, June 3, you can expect to receive your cash on Wednesday, June 1 as those days are public holidays.
If the amount you’re getting or expecting to get is not enough, you can apply for a hardship payment, but you will have to pay this back. You can find out more about this on the Government website .
Child benefit payment dates
Child Benefit pays £21.15 a week for the first child and £14.95 a week for subsequent children to qualifying parents.
From April, it's rising to £21.80 per week and £14.45 per week for additional children.
If you're due to be paid on Friday, April 15, the DWP says you'll be paid on April 14, instead.
Likewise, if you're due to be paid on Monday, April 18, you'll receive your payment on April, 14, instead.
If your payment date falls on a normal day that's not a bank holiday, then you'll get your payment as normal. All payments are automatic - so you won't need to contact the DWP if you're affected.
Tax credit payment dates are also changing
Tax-credits work as separate system, and are benefit is paid to families who need it most, such as those who need help to care for children, are disabled or have and low incomes.
There are two types of tax credit – child tax credit and working tax credit. You might be eligible for one or both of them, depending on your circumstances.
Payment dates:
Due: Friday, April 15, 2022 - Paid: Thursday April 14, 2022
Due: Monday, April 18, 2022 - Paid: Thursday April 14, 2022
What about Universal Credit payments?
Depending on your ‘assessment period’ the date that you can expect to receive your Universal Credit will change around Easter.
This period starts on the date when you first made a claim for the benefit, and you will then receive cash each calendar month afterwards. Funds are usually released 7 days after the initial assessment period ends.
But, because the Easter weekend provides millions of workers with two days off, the cash you are expecting to receive could change dates.
If you’re expecting to get your money on Friday, April 15, or Monday, April 18, you can expect to have the cash in your bank account on Thursday, April 14.
That’s because the Friday is Good Friday, so it is a public holiday, and the Monday is Easter Monday, another public holiday.
Payment dates:
Due: Friday, April 15, 2022 - Paid: Thursday April 14, 2022
Due: Monday, April 18, 2022 - Paid: Thursday April 14, 2022
What about the state pension, ESA, income support, Carer's Allowance and other benefits over Easter?
As with Universal Credit - if you are due a payment on either Easter Friday or Easter Monday, the support will come through on the Thursday beforehand instead.
This also applies to Attendance Allowance, the state pension, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit and Personal Independence Payments.
