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Exact code to spot if you’ll get paid benefits early in February thanks to leap year
How to complain if your benefits payment is missed
HOUSEHOLDS on certain benefits will want to look out for a code that could mean they get their benefits paid early this month.
2024 is a leap year meaning there's an extra day this month - February 29.
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With this in mind, you might be wondering if this will affect your benefit payments.
The good news, if you're receiving a statement pension, you shouldn't notice any change to your payments.
This is because your National Insurance number dictates what day you receive your pension money.
State pension is paid every four weeks and the day you're paid usually depends on the last two digits of this identification number.
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If those digits are between 00 and 19, the day your state pension is paid is on a Monday.
It’s Tuesday if they are between 20 and 39, and Wednesday if the digits are between 40 and 59.
Numbers 60 to 79 are paid on a Thursday and numbers 80 to 99 are usually paid on Fridays.
But if you receive other benefits, you may be paid early.
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If your benefits are normally paid into your bank account on 30 or 31 of the month then you're going to get it earlier than usual this February.
You'll be paid on the last working day of the month, which is Thursday, February 29, instead.
And as usual, if your payment date falls on a weekend, it will be sent to your account on the working day before.
Bear in mind there isn't a code to spot for other benefits.
If you get any of the following benefits, then you'll want to make sure you're prepared:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State pension
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Child Benefit
- Guardian’s Allowance
Will my benefit payment amount change?
The amount you get paid shouldn't change.
It will be the same as previous months, unless you've had a change of circumstances that affects how much you get at the same time.
You don't need to do anything if your usual date for getting your benefits is affected by the leap year.
Don't forget that if you get paid early then you'll have to make the money you get go further as you'll have extra day to wait until your next payment date.
Make sure you factor this into your budget.
But February is always a shorter month than most, typically with 28 days, meaning that you won't have to make your payments last so long.
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank.
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Failing that, you should contact the DWP.
You can also submit a complaint to the DWP over any unpaid benefits.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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