Universal Credit and benefit payment dates set to change in May and June – how affects you explained

UNIVERSAL Credit and other benefit payment dates will change in May and June.

There are three bank holidays coming up in the next couple of months, which affect when claimants will get their money.

Your usual payment date depends on when you first applied for Universal Credit and when your application was approved - there is no set day for everyone.

Most people receive their first payment seven days after the end of their initial assessment period.

If that date falls on the bank holiday, you'll get the money on the previous working day instead.

That means you won't be left waiting for cash over the long weekend.

We explain how upcoming bank holidays will affect your benefit payments in May and June.

When will I get my Universal Credit and other benefit payments?

This year, the next three bank holidays are on May 2, June 2 and June 3.

Households who usually get their payments on those dates will get their money slightly earlier than usual.

The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed it will be transferred on the previous working day.

If you usually get paid on the 2nd of the month, you'll get your May benefits on April 29 as that's the last working day before the bank holiday.

Claimants who would expect to be paid on June 2 or 3 will receive their cash on June 1 instead.

Universal Credit claimants can access lots of extra help on top of their payments.

Thousands of households on low income can access emergency cash grants to help with bills.