Exact code to see whether you will receive a benefit at the beginning of February due to the leap year
HOUSEHOLDS with certain benefits will do so want to look out for a code that could mean that their benefits are paid out early this month.
2024 is a leap year, which means there is an extra day this month: February 29.
With this in mind, you may be wondering if this will impact your benefits.
The good news is that if you receive a pension statement, you will not notice any change in your payments.
Your Citizen Service Number determines on which day you receive your pension money.
The state pension is paid every four weeks. The day on which you are paid usually depends on the last two digits of this identification number.
If these numbers are between 00 and 19, the day on which your state pension is paid is a Monday.
It is Tuesday if they are between 20 and 39, and Wednesday if the numbers are between 40 and 59.
Numbers 60 to 79 are paid on Thursdays and numbers 80 to 99 are usually paid on Fridays.
But if you receive other benefits, you may be paid early.
If your benefit is normally paid into your bank account on the 30th or 31st of the month, you will receive it earlier than normal in February.
You will be paid on the last working day of the month, namely Thursday, February 29.
And if your payment date falls on a weekend, it will be deposited into your account the working day before, as usual.
Please note that there is no code to discover other benefits.
If you get any of the following benefits, make sure you're prepared:
- Attendance allowance
- Healthcare allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Pension credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- AOW
- Universal credit
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Child benefits
- Guardian allowance
Will the amount of my benefit change?
The amount you get paid should not change.
It will be the same as previous months unless there is a change of circumstances that affects how much you get at a time.
You don't need to do anything if your usual date for receiving your benefit is affected by the leap year.
Remember, if you get paid early, you'll have to continue earning the money you get because you'll have an extra day to wait until your next payment date.
Make sure you factor this into your budget.
But February is always a shorter month than most months, usually at 28 days, meaning you won't have to make your payments for as long.
If your money is not paid on time, check the date you normally get paid and contact your bank.
If this is not the case, you should contact the DWP.
You can also complain to the DWP about unpaid benefits.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
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