Website of the UK government

Benefits affected by the payday changes

If you receive any of the following benefits you may be affected:

• Bereavement Benefit and Widow’s Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Maternity Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance

Payments for people claiming Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit will not be affected.

Why these changes are being introduced

Before 6 April 2009, different benefits were paid on different days and for different periods. This sometimes makes it difficult to understand payments especially when moving from one benefit to another or when receiving more than one benefit.

Jobcentre Plus is making the changes so you will have the same pay week-ending day no matter which benefit you get. This will make it easier if you need to change to another benefit in the future.

Benefit payment changes that start from April 2009

The changes being made mean that in the future you will be paid your benefits:

• at least every two weeks in arrears
• on a day linked to your National Insurance number

Payment in arrears

Payment in arrears means you will be paid for the days up to and including your payday or pay week-ending day. Anyone receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and most receiving Income Support are already paid in arrears.

Your ‘pay week-ending day’ is the day you are paid up to. Your ‘payday’ is the day you normally receive your payment. Please note, if you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance you normally get your payment three days after signing as unemployed, this will continue as normal.

National Insurance number

This is the number you get when you first start work or claim a benefit. It is normally shown on the letters that Jobcentre Plus sends you.

Jobcentre Plus will use the last two numbers of your National Insurance number to work out your new pay week-ending day, as shown in the following table.

Last two numbers of National Insurance number	Pay week-ending day
00 to 19	Monday
20 to 39	Tuesday
40 to 59	Wednesday
60 to 79	Thursday
80 to 99	Friday

For example, if your National Insurance number is QQ 12 34 56 A, your pay week-ending day will be Wednesday.

If Jobcentre Plus takes money out of your benefit payment to pay bills

If Jobcentre Plus takes deductions from your benefit to pay bills, for example, gas and electricity, they will not take this deduction in the week they change the day you are paid. You do not need to do anything, Jobcentre Plus will tell your supplier.

If a supplier asks you about a missed deduction, please telephone the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your benefit.

• Find your local Jobcentre Plus office Opens new window

More information about the payday changes

Use the following links to find more information about how the changes might affect your benefit payments.

• Payday changes for Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance

• Payday changes for Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support

• Payday changes for Maternity Allowance and Widows and Bereavement Benefits

Information about the payday changes, including an introductory video and alternative language leaflets, is also available on the Jobcentre Plus website.

• Jobcentre Plus payday changes information Opens new window