Millions of people will receive benefit payments early because of the August bank holiday. Payments due on Monday, 31 August, will instead be made on Friday, 28 August, the Government has confirmed…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Millions of people receiving benefits will be paid three days early to prevent disruption during the August bank holiday weekend. The change covers payments originally scheduled for Monday 31 August, which will now reach recipients on Friday 28 August.
The arrangement applies to major benefits, including Universal Credit, the State Pension, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
The Government said bringing the payments forward would give families and older people greater financial certainty over the holiday weekend. It added that the change could help parents and carers manage spending as they prepare for the new school year amid continuing pressure on household finances.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “We’re pleased to confirm that benefit payments due on the August bank holiday will be paid earlier. This will help ensure families and older people receive their money without disruption over the bank holiday period.
“This Government is determined to ensure people up and down the country have the support and breathing room they need, which is why we’ve acted to take money off energy bills, increase the National Minimum Wage and lift half a million children out of poverty, as well as supporting people into good, secure jobs.”
The announcement comes as ministers promote a wider package of measures aimed at easing the cost of living. These include capping bus fares at £2, cutting tax on household energy bills and introducing “easy to exit” rules intended to make it simpler for consumers to cancel subscriptions.
The Government has also pledged to provide free school meals to every child in a household receiving Universal Credit. It said the measure would be supported by more than £1 billion in funding and lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
Ministers are also expanding childcare provision and introducing free breakfast clubs across the country. According to the Government, the breakfast club programme could give parents up to 95 hours of backup a year and save them £450. Other measures include an increase in the National Living Wage, which ministers say will be worth £900 a year for a full-time worker from next year, and plans to reduce household energy costs by £150 in the years ahead.
The Government said its Child Poverty Strategy would lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 through measures including free school meals and expanded childcare.
A £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund is also planned. Local authorities will receive funding and flexibility to develop support tailored to their communities’ needs, with the scheme intended to prevent families from falling into financial crisis. Alongside the household support measures, ministers have committed £3.5 billion by the end of Parliament to help sick and disabled people move into secure employment.
The Connect to Work programme is now operating across the country, according to the Government, and is intended to help people find work and move out of poverty. Ministers have also deployed 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers to support Universal Credit claimants who are not required to seek employment. The advisers will help claimants move closer to work and cooperate with employers through the Jobs Guarantee, which is intended to give every young person an opportunity to earn or learn.
