The festive season may be over but as people ease into the first week of the new year there are two bank holidays which may affect payments due for those on certain benefits. There is also important information about Universal Credit payments due midweek, which some people mistakenly believe should have arrived before Hogmanay.
Monday, January 2 is an ‘observed’ bank holiday across the UK while Tuesday, January 3, is classed as a ‘substitute’ bank holiday - but only in Scotland. All benefits and payments due on January 2 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Social Security Scotland were scheduled to land in bank accounts on Friday, December 30.
State Pension and benefit payments due on Tuesday, January 3, should also have arrived on Friday, December 30 for people living in Scotland only - with the exception of Universal Credit. Universal Credit due on January 3 will be paid on that date.
A ew members of the Daily Record Money Saving Scotland Facebook group highlighted the Universal Credit payment non-change in case anyone was hoping to see their scheduled benefit payment drop earlier.
Guidance on GOV.UK states: “Tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.”
There are also changes for people in receipt of devolved benefits and payments from Social Security Scotland.
Changes for people on Scottish benefits only
- Tuesday, January 3 - payments will be made on that date, text messages will be sent to confirm
- Wednesday, January 4 -payments will be made on that date, text messages will be sent to confirm
- Thursday, January 5 - payments will be made on that date - text messages will be sent to confirm
- Friday, January 6 - will be made on Thursday, January 5
You can read the full details on payment changes here.
A list of benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland can be found here.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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