When will my benefits be paid in August?

The August bank holiday is just around the corner - and that will affect your benefits payment.

Don’t worry, the amount will stay the same, but the date the money arrives will change.

What’s happening over the bank holiday?

Monday 31 August is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so banks and government offices will be closed.

That means payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can’t be made on that day.

Instead, they are moved earlier.

When you’ll get your money instead

If your payment was due on Monday 31 August, it will usually be paid on Friday 28th August instead.

This applies to most DWP payments, including universal credit, state pension, personal independence payment (PIP) and attendance allowance.

So you’ll still get the money, just a few days earlier than planned.

“This will help ensure families and older people receive their money without disruption over the bank holiday period,” said minister for social security and disability Sir Stephen Timms.

If you're unsure when your payment is due or want to check how your benefits are paid, you can find full guidance on the government's website.

What this means for your money

At first, you might think it’s great that you’re getting your money early.

But remember that the next payment date won’t be moved forward, so you’ll have a longer gap between this payment and the next one.

So try to plan your spending across the full period, not just the first few days after payday.

Put your essentials first, like rent, food and bills, so they are covered straight away.

And if you can, try to leave a small buffer for the longer gap before your next payment.

Even a small amount can ease the pressure.