People on Universal Credit and other benefits face sudden change to jobcentres and helplines

David Bentley
·2-min read

People claiming Universal Credit and other benefits including Jobseeker's Allowance are being warned of an interruption to DWP offices and phone lines after this weekend. The Summer Bank Holiday means that - even in Scotland, where it isn't a bank holiday on Monday - there will be no services available for claimants on August 26.

On August 26, all DWP offices, including its network of jobcentres across the UK, will be closed for the day. Customer support via the various helplines for different benefits will also not be available.

With thousands of people currently moving across from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, this will mean it won't be possible to verify new claims, query payments or ring up for assistance on Bank Holiday Monday. Anyone else who has an issue to report, such as not receiving a benefit payment, getting less than expected or wanting to clarify unexpected deductions, will also find offices and helplines are closed and will need to wait until Tuesday, August 27.

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Any benefits or State Pension payments that would have been due to go in on August 26 should be credited to accounts on Friday, August 23, instead. In addition, all payments of Universal Credit where the usual due date is the 24th, 25th or 26th of the month will also go in on the Friday before. It's important to check the money has gone in on Friday as you won't be able to report any issues until August 27.

It's worth noting that all benefit and State Pension payments due on Tuesday, August 27, should go in as normal, even though it is a bank holiday the day before.

The Department for Work and Pensions said: "On Monday 26 August offices and phone lines are closed. To make sure people get their payment on a day when Jobcentre Plus offices are open, some payments will be paid early.

"If the expected payment date is Monday 26 August, benefits will be paid on Friday 23 August. All other expected payment dates are unaffected.

"To align with the bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, DWP offices and phone lines in Scotland will also be closed on Monday 26 August."

Scotland had its own August bank holiday earlier in the month, on August 5. So any claimants north of the border should make sure they're aware of the changes affecting benefit payments, jobcentres and helplines on August 26.

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