The key DWP benefit payments and money changes to be aware of in August

Several changes to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payment dates, benefits and finances are happening next month.

People across the UK should check the changes to see if they are affected over the summer month and budget accordingly. Many will see their DWP payment dates change due to the Bank Holiday weekend, and there’s also a Universal Credit shakeup.

Benefit claimants usually receive their payments in their bank, building society or credit union accounts on a regular basis such as once a month, every four weeks, or fortnightly. This depends on which benefit(s) you claim.

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However, payments are not be sent or received on bank holidays and the next of these is Monday, August 28. Therefore if you are due cash from the DWP or HMRC – such as Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit, and Guardian’s Allowance – on this date you will be paid early, on Friday, August 25.

In some parts of the UK, people who receive Tax Credits will also see a huge change from August. People in the West of Scotland, Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and South London can expect to receive letters inviting them to claim Universal Credit as the Government expands the migration of legacy benefit claimants to the modern IT welfare system.

It has previously rolled out the “Managed Migration” in Kent, North London, Durham and Tees Valley, and West Yorkshire. No date for Lancashire has yet been given, however HMRC administers Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit and has previously advised claimants that both benefits will be replaced by Universal Credit by the end of 2024, the Daily Record reports.

People across the UK are also being warned of a risk of losing money from August 1, when old postage stamps will become null and void. From this date, Royal Mail users could be hit with extra charges if they use the non-barcoded stamps.

Customers who cannot use any non-barcoded stamps before July 31 can swap them for the new barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme. The Swap Out scheme opened on March 31, 2022.

Royal Mail encourages customers to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find any unused non-barcoded stamps.