THOUSANDS of households on benefits including Universal Credit will be paid earlier than usual today.
Benefits are paid early on the first working day before any bank holiday dates.
So if your payment would ordinarily land in your account on May 6, it should be with you today (May 3).
If you claim any of the following benefits you could be affected:
The official Government guidance states: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
“If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.
“This may be different for tax credits and Child Benefit.”
Bear in mind that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make most of the payments for the above benefits.
However, HMRC is responsible for paying out tax credits.
There’s also another bank holiday on Monday, May 27, to watch out for.
If you’re due cash on this day, you should get paid on Friday, May 24, instead.
If you don’t receive your benefit payment one working day before the bank holiday, contact DWP directly.
You can also submit a complaint to them to get a problem sorted if your payment is wrong.
The simple answer is no.
That’s unless you’ve had a change of circumstances which impacts how much you are due.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
If you are getting paid early today, remember you will need to make any money last as your next payment date will be a longer wait than usual.
If you are expecting a payment and it’s not made then make sure you double-check the date you are usually paid and contact your bank.
Otherwise, you will need to contact the DWP or HMRC.
You can also submit a complaint to both Government departments over any unpaid benefits or delays.
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.
The latest round of funding is worth £421million to councils in England.
The fund is shared between local councils across the country who then distribute it as they see fit.
But because each region has been allocated a different share of the fund, what you can get depends on where you live.
Who qualifies is a postcode lottery too, as each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.
However, if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, are classed as vulnerable or are on benefits, you will likely qualify for help.
The HSF was recently extended in the Government’s Spring Budget until September and some councils have already opened for applications.
For example, Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.
Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.
You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
If you’re struggling to pay for energy bills, you might be able to use your benefit entitlement to cover their cost.
It is sometimes called “third party deductions” or Fuel Direct if it is for gas and electricity payments.
You can go through Fuel Direct if you are on one of five benefits, including Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
A fixed amount is deducted from your benefits until you’ve paid off any outstanding energy debt.
Those on Universal Credit will have 5% deducted from their benefit payments, for example.
So, if you receive £300 a month, £15 would be deducted.
You can set up deductions from your gas and electricity bill by contacting your supplier and giving your consent over the phone.
A number of energy firms offer struggling customers grants to cover the cost of bills.
The British Gas Energy Trust is currently offering customers grants worth between £250 and £2,000.
The scheme is closing on April 19 though.
EDF is also offering customers in hardship who have received help from a money advice service grants, with no set limit.
Octopus Energy can also offer you help if you are one of its customers through its Octo Assist Fund.
Ovo Energy, Shell Energy, Scottish Power and Utilita Energy all have their own dedicated funds to help struggling households too.
Eligibility criteria varies between all the suppliers, so you should get in touch with yours to see what help is on offer.
For example, Scottish Power’s Hardship Fund is only open to those on Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.
HERE'S everything to know about Universal Credit:
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