Many people who get the state pension will receive their payment earlier than usual this month. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is in charge of handling pension payments, is changing the schedule because of the upcoming early May bank holiday.
If you normally receive your pension on May 5, you’ll get it instead on Friday, May 2. This is because May 5 falls on a bank holiday, and the DWP doesn’t send out payments on those days. To make sure pensioners aren’t left without money over the long weekend, the payment is sent out earlier.
This change is common and happens before most bank holidays. The DWP usually sends payments on the last working day before a weekend or holiday if your usual payday falls on one of those days. However, if your payment is due on a day that’s not a holiday, this change won’t affect you.
The early payment doesn’t only apply to pensions—it also affects other benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments (PIP), and Employment and Support Allowance. Another schedule change will happen later this month too, because of the Spring Bank Holiday on May 26. Anyone expecting money that day will receive it early on May 23 instead.
When people get their pension depends on the last two digits of their National Insurance number. To receive the full state pension, you usually need 35 years of National Insurance contributions.
Although getting your money early might be helpful, it also means it needs to stretch over a longer period before your next payment. After the holiday, the DWP will return to the usual schedule. As always, payments are made directly into your bank, building society, or credit union account.
Dean Butler from Standard Life said the state pension remains a key part of retirement income and will rise to £11,973 per year in 2025–26. But he added that many people are still unsure about how it works or how much they’ll actually receive. Knowing the amount and when you’ll get it helps with retirement planning, especially for deciding how much more you might need to save or when you can afford to stop working.
He also explained that National Insurance contributions play a big role in how much pension you receive. With the personal tax allowance staying frozen at £12,570 until 2028, some people could even start paying tax on their pension income alone by 2026 or 2027—unless the government changes the rules. That’s why being aware of these details is important when thinking about your financial future in retirement.
