DWP is paying state pension early to certain pensioners this week - are you affected?
Certain pensioners will get their state pension early this month
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make some state pension payments early this week, meaning pensioners may find they have a longer gap than usual between this month and next month's payment.
DWP payments usually due on Monday, the 25th, or Tuesday, the 26th, of December will instead be paid on Friday, December 22.
The DWP usually makes payments due on bank holidays on the first working day prior.
As Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Monday and Tuesday, the payment will instead be made ahead of this weekend.
The DWP makes payments due on bank holidays on the first working day prior
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The state pension is usually paid in arrears every four weeks into an account of the recipient's choice.
The payment day depends on the person's National Insurance number.
"You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday," the Government website explains.
If a person's last two digits of their National Insurance number, their state pension payment day would be on a Monday, while numbers ending with 20 to 39 are due on a Tuesday.
While getting the payment ahead of Christmas will likely be welcome news for those affected, it does mean they will have more than four weeks between this payment and the next.
The DWP also pays benefit payments such as Universal Credit early, if the payment date was due on a weekend or bank holiday.
If a Universal Credit payment is due on Wednesday December 27, the Government has confirmed the payment will land on this date.
However, for all other DWP payments due on December 27, the payment will be made on Friday December 22.
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The DWP will make payments due on the 25th and 26th December early on Friday December 22
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The Government said: "Tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled."
Universal Credit is paid once per month, usually into the claimant's bank, building society or credit union account.
It will usually take around five weeks to get the first payment, but after the first payment, the recipient will be paid on the same date of each month.
Those who live in Scotland can get their Universal Credit payment either once a month or in two instalments, paid at two points in the month.
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