October DWP payment dates for benefits and pensions - full list
The new Labour Government is set to announce its first Budget at the end of next month. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that her Autumn statement, which will be revealed on October 30, will be influenced by some “tough decisions” but has assured there will be “no return to austerity”.
She has also hinted at potential changes to the benefits and pensions system. However, until then, payments will continue as usual. Here is a list of when all such payments will be made in October.
Benefits
Benefits, including jobseeker’s allowance, universal credit and pension credit, are typically paid straight into the claimant’s account. As listed on the Government website, payment dates will usually stick to an easy-to-follow pattern.
But if your normal payment date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, then that benefit will be paid on the working day before instead - although this may be different for tax credits and child benefit.
Since there are no bank holidays in October in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, your benefit payment schedule should be as follows:
Attendance allowance – usually every four weeks
Carer’s allowance – weekly in advance or every four weeks
Child benefit – usually every four weeks or weekly for single parents
Disability living allowance – usually every four weeks
Employment and support allowance – usually every two weeks
Income support – usually every two weeks
Jobseeker’s allowance – usually every two weeks
Maternity allowance – every two or four weeks
Pension credit – usually every four weeks
Personal independence payment (PIP) – usually every four weeks
Tax credits – every four weeks or weekly
Universal credit – every month.
If a benefit payment is not made at the time expected, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) advises checking the date on an award notice and bank account. If the date is correct but the money has failed to be paid, then you should visit gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus/existing-benefit-claims to contact the correct department.
Pensions
The basic state pension is paid directly into a claimant’s chosen bank, building society or credit union account every four weeks. The exact day on which your state pension is paid will depend on the last two digits of their national insurance number.
This is how national insurance numbers correspond to days of payment:
00 to 19: Monday
20 to 39: Tuesday
40 to 59: Wednesday
60 to 79: Thursday
80 to 99: Friday.
The full basic state pension is £169.50 per week. But if you’re a man born on or after 6 April, 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April, 1953, you’ll get the new state pension instead.
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To get the full state pension, you need a certain number of qualifying years of national insurance payment.
For a man this is:
30 qualifying years if born between 1945 and 1951
44 qualifying years if born before 1945.
For a woman this is:
30 qualifying years if born between 1950 and 1953
39 qualifying years if born before 1950.
People who have fewer than the full number of qualifying years, will have a basic state pension of less than £169.50 per week. If there is a problem with your pension payments, you can call the pension service on 0800 731 0469 or visit gov.uk/contact-pension-service.