DWP state pensioners to get surprise payments in bank accounts on Friday

State pensioners have been advised that payments are set to hit accounts on Friday, earlier than normal.

Those claiming State Pension and Pension Credit across the UK are being reminded that their payment dates will change for this week. Older people have been reminded thousands of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit claimants are set to be paid earlier due to the Bank Holiday.

Due to the holiday on Monday, August 25, 2025, those normally scheduled to receive funds that day will instead find the money in their accounts on Friday, August 22 - a full 72 hours before the initially proposed and agreed date. It comes as DWP confirms new Winter Fuel Payment deadline with pensioners urged to act now.

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Fiona Peake, Personal Finance Expert at Ocean Finance, warns: "Getting your money on Friday instead of the Monday might feel like a win going into the long weekend, but it means you'll have three extra days to stretch it." She advises treating Friday, August 22 as if it were the usual payday and planning the week as normal.

The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number, and you might be paid earlier if your normal payment day falls on a bank holiday. The last two digits of your National Insurance number determine your payment day of the week. If they are between 00 and 19, you are paid on a Monday, reports Birmingham Live.

If they are between 20 and 39, you are paid on a Tuesday, between 40 and 59 means you are paid on a Wednesday, and codes between 60 and 79 and 80 to 99 mean payments are made on Thursdays or Fridays respectively by the DWP.

The DWP website advises: "After you've claimed your State Pension you'll get a letter about your payments. The new State Pension is usually paid into your account every 4 weeks. If you want to change the account, tell the Pension Service. There are different rules if you live abroad."

Welfare payments such as Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are also being paid early due to the August bank holiday. How often you get paid depends on what type of benefit you claim.

For example, you’ll get paid Universal Credit on the same day each month, while Tax Credits are typically paid by HMRCevery four weeks or weekly. Child Benefit is usually every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday - so you'd only be affected by one of the bank holiday days over Easter.