DWP to overhaul Universal Credit payments and Jobcentres due to Easter bank holiday - what to know
Millions of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit claimants are being urged to act today before services shut down for the Easter bank holiday weekend.Those who need to contact JobCentres or benefit helplines must do so before offices close this evening or face waiting until next week to access vital services.Any payments for benefits, including Universal Credit, which are due on Good Friday (April 18) or Easter Monday (April 21) will be paid early today.Furthermore, the DWP has confirmed that all departmental offices and phone lines will be closed during the four-day bank holiday weekend.Claimants requiring assistance after today will face a six-day wait until services resume on Tuesday, April 22. Universal Credit payments scheduled for April 18-21 will all be processed today."To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early," the DWP said.Normal service will resume on Tuesday, April 22, when offices and phone lines will open as usual.Anyone needing urgent assistance should contact relevant services today before the extended closure begins.The temporary shutdown is due to both Friday and Monday being designated bank holidays for the Easter weekend.The list of payments affected by the Easter payment changes includes various benefits administered by the DWP.Universal Credit is paid monthly and tied to a specific date for each claimant. Any Universal Credit amounts due on April 18, 19, 20, or 21 will be paid on April 17 instead.It's worth noting that Universal Credit claimants will not see increased amounts from the 2025 uprating until at least May 13. Any payments processed before then will be at the old 2024/2025 rates.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:DWP could owe you compensation after state pension issue left older Briton £3k a year worse offState pension triple lock WILL NOT be axed as older Britons to get £1,900 windfallNew DWP crackdown to hit thousands of workers as £1 breach triggers £4,330 benefit repaymentTax credits are no longer affected as they have been fully replaced by Universal Credit, with the HMRC tax credit system permanently shut down on April 5.Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you'll usually be paid on the working day before.The DWP states on its website: "You'll be asked for bank, building society or credit union account details when you claim."Those who cannot open or manage an account should "contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get it paid."
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Millions of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit claimants are being urged to act today before services shut down for the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Those who need to contact JobCentres or benefit helplines must do so before offices close this evening or face waiting until next week to access vital services.
Any payments for benefits, including Universal Credit, which are due on Good Friday (April 18) or Easter Monday (April 21) will be paid early today.
Furthermore, the DWP has confirmed that all departmental offices and phone lines will be closed during the four-day bank holiday weekend.
Claimants requiring assistance after today will face a six-day wait until services resume on Tuesday, April 22.
Universal Credit payments scheduled for April 18-21 will all be processed today.
"To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early," the DWP said.
Normal service will resume on Tuesday, April 22, when offices and phone lines will open as usual.
Anyone needing urgent assistance should contact relevant services today before the extended closure begins.
The temporary shutdown is due to both Friday and Monday being designated bank holidays for the Easter weekend.
The list of payments affected by the Easter payment changes includes various benefits administered by the DWP.
Universal Credit is paid monthly and tied to a specific date for each claimant.
Any Universal Credit amounts due on April 18, 19, 20, or 21 will be paid on April 17 instead.
It's worth noting that Universal Credit claimants will not see increased amounts from the 2025 uprating until at least May 13. Any payments processed before then will be at the old 2024/2025 rates.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- DWP could owe you compensation after state pension issue left older Briton £3k a year worse off
- State pension triple lock WILL NOT be axed as older Britons to get £1,900 windfall
- New DWP crackdown to hit thousands of workers as £1 breach triggers £4,330 benefit repayment
Tax credits are no longer affected as they have been fully replaced by Universal Credit, with the HMRC tax credit system permanently shut down on April 5.
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you'll usually be paid on the working day before.
The DWP states on its website: "You'll be asked for bank, building society or credit union account details when you claim."
Those who cannot open or manage an account should "contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get it paid."
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