Some state pension recipients will receive an early payment worth up to £965.20 this Friday as a result of Scotland’s summer bank holiday.
The payment date has been moved because the holiday falls on Monday, August 3.
Under Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules, benefit payments due on a bank holiday are automatically issued on the last working day beforehand.
This means pensioners in Scotland who would normally be paid on Monday will instead receive their money on Friday, July 31.
The change affects people whose National Insurance numbers end between 00 and 19, as they are the group normally paid on Mondays.
The early payment follows the 4.8 per cent state pension increase introduced on April 6.
The full new state pension is now £241.30 a week, while the full basic state pension is £184.90 a week.
Because the DWP pays the state pension every four weeks, recipients of the full new state pension can receive up to £965.20 in a single payment.
DWP to pay some state pensioners up to £965 early this week due to bank holiday
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GETTYThose on the full basic state pension can receive up to £705.80.
Maximum amounts apply only to people with a full National Insurance record; those with fewer qualifying years receive less.
Payment days are determined by the final two digits of a National Insurance number:
- 00–19 — Monday
- 20–39 — Tuesday
- 40–59 — Wednesday
- 60–79 — Thursday
- 80–99 — Friday
State pension recipients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland may also receive an early payment later in August.
Pensioners do not need to take any action
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PAThe summer bank holiday in those nations falls on Monday, August 31, meaning anyone due to be paid that day — again, those with National Insurance numbers ending 00 to 19 — will instead receive their pension on Friday, 28 August.
The DWP will automatically pay the money into their usual bank, building society or credit union account.
The department said: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
It added: “The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.”
State pension payments are made every four weeks, with a claimant’s first full payment arriving no later than five weeks after the date they choose when submitting their application.