The department for work and pensions (DWP) has confirmed that several benefits will be issued earlier than scheduled this month because of the summer bank holiday on Monday, August 25, 2025. This adjustment applies to recipients in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, where payments due on the holiday will instead arrive on the preceding Friday.
According to Manchester Evening News, the shift is linked to the closure of government offices, jobcentres, and banks on the holiday date, which prevents the usual processing of payments. The updated schedule ensures that eligible claimants receive their funds without disruption to their regular entitlements.
Remaining Bank Holidays in 2025
There are three bank holidays still to come in 2025 for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with the summer bank holiday at the end of August being the next one. Scotland will have four remaining bank holidays, one more than the rest of the UK. The August bank holiday is set for Monday, August 25, 2025, marking the traditional late-summer long weekend.
Which Benefits Are Affected
Payments scheduled for the bank holiday will be brought forward to Friday, August 22, ensuring that recipients have access to their funds before the public holiday closures. The change covers a range of regular benefits administered by the DWP and HMRC, and it affects both weekly and monthly payment cycles where the usual date falls on the holiday. This applies to:
- universal credit
- state pension
- pension credit
- child benefit
- disability living allowance
- personal independence payment (pip)
- attendance allowance
- carer’s allowance
- employment support allowance
- income support
- jobseeker’s allowance
The DWP emphasised that payment amounts will not change. However, because the next regular payment will follow its usual schedule, some recipients will face a slightly longer gap until their next payment.
Monthly Payment Date Calculation
Those who are paid monthly can work out their next payment date by counting four weeks forward from their last payment. If that date falls on a bank holiday, the payment will be made earlier.
According to gov.uk, any child benefit due on August 25 will be paid on August 22 instead. To find out when you are next due to be paid, the advice is:
You can work out when you’re next going to get Child Benefit by counting four weeks forward from your last payment. Do not count forward if your payment was due on a bank holiday – the dates are different.
Recipients can confirm the date by checking their bank statement, where the payment reference will begin with “HMRC Child Benefit” and contain 18 characters. Alternatively, they can view their payment history online and see up to five previous payments. Signing in may require proof of identity such as a passport or driving licence.
State Pension Schedule
The basic state pension is normally paid every four weeks, and the day depends on the last two digits of the national insurance number:
- 00–19: Monday
- 20–39: Tuesday
- 40–59: Wednesday
- 60–79: Thursday
- 80–99: Friday
For those with a Monday schedule, the August bank holiday will bring payment forward to Friday, August 22.
Closures and Contact Information
The DWP points out, benefit offices, jobcentres, and banks will be closed on the bank holiday, which is why payments are moved. If a payment does not arrive as expected, recipients can call the DWP helpline on 0800 328 5644. The helpline will not operate on the holiday itself, but will be available the working day before or the day after.
Even though the amount is the same, careful budgeting may be necessary to cover the slightly longer period until the following payment.
