State Pension payments to change in August due to bank holiday

Millions of pensioners across the UK could receive their State Pension earlier than usual this August because of the Summer Bank Holiday.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that benefit payments scheduled to fall on the August Bank Holiday will instead be paid on the last working day before the holiday. This means some recipients may see their money arrive earlier than expected.

The change applies to the State Pension as well as several other benefits administered by the DWP, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

While receiving payments early can be helpful, the DWP is reminding claimants that the earlier payment will need to last until their next scheduled payment date. Budgeting carefully is recommended to avoid running short before the following payment arrives.

The adjustment is made automatically, meaning pensioners and benefit claimants do not need to contact the DWP or take any action.

State Pension payments are usually made every four weeks, with the payment day determined by the last two digits of a person's National Insurance number. Bank holidays can temporarily alter the payment schedule, but the amount received remains unchanged.

Anyone unsure about when their next payment is due can check their DWP account or visit the official government website for the latest payment dates.