Why are Universal Credit payments for Easter being delayed?

Universal Credit is a crucial financial assistance program that millions of people in the United Kingdom rely on. Regular payments are made to recipients, but sometimes, bank holidays can cause delays in the distribution of these payments. With Easter just around the corner, it’s important to be aware of how these holidays can affect Universal Credit payments.

Adjustments for Bank Holidays

When a bank holiday falls on a recipient’s scheduled Universal Credit payment date, the payment will not be made on that day due to the banks being closed. However, the government strives to process payments ahead of time to minimize any delays.

Universal Credit Schedule for 2024’s Bank Holidays

The alternative payment dates for bank holidays in 2024 are as follows:

• January 5 due date = January 4 actual payment date
• March 17 due date = March 16 actual payment date
• March 18 due date = March 17 actual payment date
• April 15 due date = April 14 actual payment date
• April 18 due date = April 14 actual payment date
• May 2 due date = April 29 actual payment date
• June 2 due date = June 1 actual payment date
• June 3 due date = June 1 actual payment date
• July 12 due date = July 11 actual payment date
• July 13 due date = July 12 actual payment date
• August 1 due date = July 29 actual payment date
• August 2 due date = August 1 actual payment date
• August 29 due date = August 26 actual payment date
• December 26 due date = December 23 actual payment date
• December 27 due date = December 23 actual payment date
• December 28 due date = December 23 actual payment date
• December 29 due date = December 28 actual payment date

Delays Due to Bank Holidays

It’s important to note that delays in Universal Credit payments due to bank holidays are typically limited to local or city holidays within the UK. These delays usually only last for one or two days and do not affect national holidays. Therefore, it’s recommended to check if your specific city or region observes any additional local holidays that could potentially cause a delay in the disbursement of Universal Credit.