Universal Credit claimants will see a major change to Department for Work and Pension (DWP) services this week due to the Easter bank holidays. Job Centre Plus offices and phone lines will be closed on bank holidays, so claimants will not be open on Friday this week and Monday next week.
This year Good Friday falls on April 18, and Easter Monday falls on April 21. Alongside the JobCentres offices, the National Jobcentre Enquiry Line will also be closed on the bank holidays. The phone lines are always closed on the weekends. JobCentre offices and phone lines will reopen again on April 23.
To make sure people can access help and advice when the offices and phone lines are closed, the DWP is paying benefits early this week. . Universal Credit is paid on the same day each month. If you are due to be paid Universal Credit on Friday, April 18, or Monday, April 21, you will be paid on Thursday, April 17 instead.
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If you’re due to be paid on a different day, you won’t need to do anything – the money will be paid into your account as normal. The amount you get will also remain the same, and it will also be paid into the same account in which you normally receive your benefit payment.
It’s important to note that if you do get paid earlier, you will have to make your money last longer as you’ll have a longer wait until your next payment – even if it is just by one day.
If your money does not arrive in your account on the new payment date, you will need to contact the department that pays your benefit as soon as possible. Again, this is because the DWP support offices will be closed over bank holidays.
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You can find the relevant support numbers on the government’s official website. You can reach its Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. You can find your nearest Jobcentre Plus centre by visiting the GOV.UK here. It’s worth bearing in mind that your nearest branch could be open on a Saturday, so check ahead.
JobCentres – which are an arm of the DWP – are used by people claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit to help them find employment. In March, the DWP announced plans to overhaul them as part of the government’s plan to shake up the disability benefits system.
The benefits department has announced plans to use 1,000 work coaches to help the long-term unemployed into work. These work coaches are already employed by Jobcentres, but they will be “redeployed” to different areas. The coaches are set to offer tailored and “intensive” support to people on health-related benefits. The help offered will include support in writing CVs and interview techniques.
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