DWP payment dates in May 2025: When you will get your benefits this month

More than 20 million people in the UK rely on benefits and pensions to help them cover the cost of living.

That is nearly a third of the population receiving some form of financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Bills increased for many households in April, and prices are still rising – although at far lower rates than seen at the height of the cost of living crisis. It mans benefits and pensions are having to stretch further.

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The DWP increased benefits last month by 1.7%. That was according to September’s rate of inflation, which is typically how the government decides how much benefits are going to go up.

If you haven’t received your higher rate yet, don’t worry – we explain why you might not receive it until June later in this article.

Pensions went up by 4.1% in April. That’s because pensions rise by whichever is higher of wages, inflation or 2.5%, according to the rules of the triple lock.

Too few people know that they might be entitled to financial support. Just under £23 billion in benefits and financial help goes unclaimed each year, believed to be because of stigma around benefits and difficulties navigating the system.

So we break it down for you with the basics you need to know about benefits and pensions in May 2025 – including what date you might get your benefits and pensions (including over the bank holiday weekends), what to do if a benefit or pension payment is missing, the changes the DWP is planning for benefits, as well as how to know if you could be eligible for benefits and other financial support available.

What date will my DWP benefits be paid in May 2025?

The date your benefit is paid in May depends on which benefit you receive and the date you first received your benefit payment.

Universal credit is paid monthly by the DWP. Attendance allowance, disability living allowance, pension credit, personal independence payment (PIP) and state pension are paid every four weeks after the date your received your first payment.

Carer’s allowance, tax credits (from HMRC) and child benefit are either weekly or every four weeks. And maternity allowance is either every two weeks or every four weeks.

If the date you usually expect your benefit payment falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, then your benefit will be paid on the working day before.

What date will my benefit be paid over the May bank holidays?

Some people will receive their benefits from the DWP slightly early, ahead of the May bank holidays.

The usual rule is that if your benefits payment is due on a bank holiday or weekend, you will be paid on the last working day before your payment was due.

That means that if you were due to get your benefit on 5 May, you will most likely get it on 2 May. If you were due to get your benefit on 26 May, you will probably get it on 23 May.

When will my state pension be paid in May 2025?

State pension is usually paid every four weeks. The day your pension is paid depends on your national insurance number.

If your NI number is 00 to 019, you’ll be paid on Monday. If it’s 20 to 39, it’s Tuesday. For 40 to 59, it’s Wednesday. If it’s 60 to 79, you’ll be paid on Thursday. And for 80 to 99, it’s Friday.

You’ll be asked when you want to start getting your state pension when you claim, and your first payment will be no later than five weeks after the date you choose.

You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day falls on a bank holiday.

What to do if you haven’t received your benefit payment on the expected day

If your benefit payment hasn’t arrived and you think you should have received it, double check the payment date on your awards notice in the first instance. If there has been a bank holiday or weekend, there’s a chance it may be delayed until the next working day.

After that, contact your bank to ask if there is a payment waiting to go through. The payment might be pending and it might be a simple issue of the funds not having been cleared yet.

And if it’s still missing, it’s time to contact the office which handles your benefit or pension – such as the DWP or HMRC. For example, for universal credit you can use your online account or call the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

For missing PIP payments, contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433. If you are receiving tax credits or other financial support handled by the HMRC, contact HMRC.

How much did benefits go up in 2025? And why haven’t I got the increased rate yet?

Benefits increased by 1.7% in April 2025. However, some universal credit claimants won’t see the increased rate until around June.

This is because the new rate won’t be paid until people go through an assessment period starting 7 April or later.

Universal credit payments are paid a week after the last date of each assessment period.

So for example, if your assessment period starts on 24 March, it runs for a month until 23 April. The new assessment period begins on 24 April. You’ll then be paid a week later – on 30 April.

But because your assessment period fell before 7 April, when benefits went up, you’ll have to wait until the end of May to get the increased rate.

Charity Turn2us has more information.

How much did state pension go up in April 2025? And when will I get the increased rate?

State pension increased by 4.1% in April 2025 according to the rules of the triple lock.

The triple lock means that state pension rises by whichever is highest: inflation, wage growth or 2.5%. And this year, that was wage growth at 4.1%.

It means pensioners are now getting £230.25 a week for the full, new flat-rate state pension (for those who reached state pension age after April 2016).

The increased rate didn’t kick in until the new tax year started on 6 April – so if you got your last payment in early April, you may only see the higher sum in your next payment.

How do I know if I am eligible for benefits in May 2025?

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use a benefits calculator to find out what you might be entitled to claim – including from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice and entitledto.

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. You can also find local advice services here.

The government’s Help for Households website explains what other support you could be eligible for – and we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.

What time should you receive benefit payments?

The time you’ll receive your benefit payments depends on your bank and the automated system. Don’t worry if you don’t receive your benefit payment at the same time as someone else.

DWP currently uses the Bankers’ Automated Clearing Services (BACS) payment validation process to make universal credit payments – and that often means people get payments between midnight and early morning.

But don’t panic if you haven’t received your payment at the same time you did the previous month. The automated system or your bank may just be lagging.

There are steps you can take if it gets to the following day and you still haven’t received your benefit payment as expected.

What changes is the DWP planning for benefits?

The DWP has announced a series of plans for the benefits system. In positive news, this includes increasing universal credit for single people aged 25 and over by £7 a week in 2026 to 2027.

People will also have the ‘right to try’ work without the risk of losing their benefits, and there will be increased employment support for benefit claimants.

However, also includes disability benefit cuts – such as tightening the eligibility criteria for PIP, freezing the universal credit health element and cutting it in half for new claimants.

Here’s our breakdown of all the changes. The DWP is currently running a consultation into the proposed changes to the benefits system, and you can make your voice heard here. There are 17 questions to answer, although you can leave some blank if you would prefer.

Alternatively, you can email consultation.pathwaystowork@dwp.gov.uk or write to the Disability and Health Support Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, Level 2, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H9NA.

Are there any cost of living payments planned for 2025?

Unfortunately there are no cost of living payments planned for this year. The last cost of living payment reached eligible bank accounts in February 2024.

But there is other cost of living help available for households who need it, which we’ve rounded up below.

Where else can I get cost of living help?

Benefits aren’t stretching far enough in the cost of living crisis and there are no more cost of living payments planned for 2025 – but there are other options out there for people who need it.

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website.

There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person. Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. 

If you are unable to pay your bills, your local council may have a scheme that can help you. Local councils may be able to give you debt advice, help you get hold of furniture and support you with buying food and paying your energy bills.

Your council may also have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. It also may have a support scheme, such as food or fuel vouchers, paid for by the household support fund.

You can also find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder or by contacting your local authority directly.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland. There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it.

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