Social welfare payment dates change due to October Bank Holiday - here's all you need to know

A number of social welfare payments are to be affected by the October bank holiday.

Halloween (October 31) falls on a Monday this year, meaning that the bank holiday itself does too - which also means that many businesses and outlets will be closed for the day.

As well as the usual shops, restaurants and supermarkets having reduced hours, post offices, credit unions and Intreo centres will also either be closed for the day or have changed hours of opening.

READ MORE: What date is the October bank holiday in Ireland? Halloween long weekend just days away

This, naturally, could present a headache for people claiming social welfare benefits as their usual collection time and date won't be available.

Here are some of the major changes that we already know, per DublinLive.

Post Office payment arrangements

If your pension payment is due to be paid at a post office on bank holiday Monday, you will instead be able to collect it early on Saturday, 29 October. Meanwhile recipients who get paid by cheque due on bank holiday Monday should also receive it on Saturday.

All post offices will be closed on bank holiday Monday 31 October and will then reopen as normal on Tuesday, 1 November.

Credit Union payments

Any welfare payments that are due to be paid into bank accounts or credit unions will be paid on Tuesday, November 1.

Child Benefit

Parents and guardians could receive their Child Benefit payment for November earlier than usual.

The stipend is usually paid on the first Tuesday of every month. But the upcoming Halloween bank holiday could see people receiving the benefit a few days early as the first Tuesday would fall on November 1.

It is possible that recipients could get the payment as early as Friday, October 29 or Saturday, October 30. Meanwhile, parents are also set to receive a one-off extra child benefit payment of €140 per child on top of their usual monthly payments.

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