Millions of Brits who receive Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and other benefits will see their payments change in May 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed.
These changes, which could affect either the date or amount received, follow closely on the heels of the Easter bank holiday weekend’s payment disruptions, when benefits were rescheduled to arrive up to four days earlier.
The Early May Bank Holiday, also known as May Day Bank Holiday, falls on Monday, May 5 this year. As a result, any benefits due on that date will instead be paid Friday, May 2.
This change will affect Universal Credit payments which are due on the 5th of each month, as well as fortnightly payments of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that would otherwise have been paid on that Monday.
Four-weekly payments of PIP, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit, State Pension, and Child Benefit due on that Monday will also be affected.
From May 2, benefits paid every four weeks in arrears will begin to see the full effect of the new April uprating on Monday, May 5.
This includes disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, in addition to Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit, State Pension and Pension Credit. However, due to May 5 being a bank holiday, the full increase will be implemented when payments are rescheduled to be deposited into accounts a few days earlier on May 2.
The increase for Universal Credit payments will take effect from May 13. Universal Credit is linked to the same date each calendar month, based on when an individual first lodged their claim.
It is paid in arrears seven days after a one-month assessment period during which each claimant’s financial circumstances are evaluated, including any earnings, savings, overpayments, third-party debts and overlapping benefits.
The April uprating was activated on Monday, April 7, so the first individuals to see their payments rise will be those whose assessment period spans from April 7 to May 6. The amount will be deposited into their accounts seven days later, on May 13.
Other claimants will witness their payments enhanced by the annual increase sometime thereafter, either in late May or June.
The Spring Bank Holiday, also known as the Late May Bank Holiday, falls this year on Monday, May 26. Any benefits due that day will be advanced to Friday, May 23, instead.
