Benefit payments are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account
Department for Work & Pensions sign(Image: PA )
There are plenty of money changes taking place in April, as the end of another financial year takes place. Fresh charges come into effect for everything from council tax to water rates and TV Licence fees. In a recent analysis by the Cost of Living Action Group, it found 63% of UK citizens have had to cut back on the essentials to handle the cost of living.
Across the UK there are currently around 24 million people in the country claiming some combination of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered benefits, which include those receiving a State Pension. In April, some benefit payment dates will be impacted by the two bank holidays over the Easter period.
If you are due to receive a payment on Friday April 3 (Good Friday) or Monday April 6 (Easter Monday), you should instead receive it on Thursday April 2. This will be for most benefits, including Universal Credit, State Pension, Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and others.
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. Guidance from gov.uk said: “If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
The same bank holiday payment date changes that apply to most benefits will also apply to State Pension payments. The basic State Pension is paid straight into bank accounts, similar to how benefits are paid. The exact day you receive it corresponds to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number.
Here’s when you should be paid based on those numbers:
00 to 19: Monday
20 to 39: Tuesday
40 to 59: Wednesday
60 to 79: Thursday
80 to 99: Friday
The change of dates means that money will need to last longer than previous months due to it being paid earlier. If you had been expecting your benefits but they hadn’t arrived, you need to contact the DWP on 0800 328 5644. It will, however, be closed on bank holidays.
DWP benefits that are linked to inflation rise by 3.8% in April 2026, as do inflation-linked benefits administered by HMRC. Universal Credit standard allowances will receive an additional uplift of 2.3%. The basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% from April 2026.
The two-child limit will be removed at the beginning of the new tax year. This means families receiving Universal Credit will be able to claim the child element of the benefit for every child in their household, rather than just the first two.
It’s projected that 450,000 fewer children will be living in relative poverty by 2030/2031 as a consequence of this rule change. The Government also predicts that 150,000 fewer working age adults would be in relative poverty.