A change in payment dates will give some pensioners an early cash boost.
State pensioners in Scotland may get payments earlier than normal due to the bank holiday (Image: Getty)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be sending payments of up to £921 to State Pensioners on Friday if they have a specific two-digit code.
Benefit payments, including the State Pension, are sent into bank accounts early when the payment date falls on a bank holiday. In these cases, the DWP will usually send the payment on the working day before. In Scotland, the summer bank holiday falls on Monday, August 4, which means many pensioners can expect to receive their State Pension payment earlier than normal. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the summer bank holiday is much later in the month and falls on August 25.
So pensioners in Scotland who are expecting a payment on Monday, August 4, will instead receive this on Friday, August 1, as this is the earliest working day before the bank holiday.
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
So if your National Insurance number ends in 00 to 19 it means your usual payment normally falls on a Monday. As such, this may correspond with the August summer bank holiday in Scotland and if so, you will be paid earlier than normal on the earliest working day before – which is a Friday.
If your State Pension payment date is changing this month you don’t need to do anything as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
The DWP explains: “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.”
The State Pension is usually paid every four weeks and the amount pensioners receive from the DWP depends on when you retired.
Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension, which is worth £176.45 per week, or around £705.80 per month.
Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, get the new State Pension, which is worth £230.25 per week if you get the full rate. Those on this pension who get the full rate get £921 per month.
