The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the March 2025 payment dates for State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit, and other benefits.
Unlike in some months, there are no bank holidays in March that would cause payments to be issued early. This means that most people will receive their benefits as scheduled on their usual payment dates.
Additionally, the DWP has confirmed that PIP and Universal Credit will increase in April 2025, in line with inflation, to help support claimants with the rising cost of living.
This article provides a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your benefit payments in March and how much PIP and Universal Credit will increase in April.
March 2025 Benefit and Pension Payment Dates
In March 2025, all benefits and pensions will be paid on their regular schedule because there are no UK bank holidays in the month.
State Pension Payment Dates
Your State Pension is paid every four weeks, and the day of the week you receive your payment is determined by the last two digits of your National Insurance number:
- 00 to 19 → Paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 → Paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 → Paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 → Paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 → Paid on Friday
Universal Credit Payment Dates
Universal Credit is paid once a month, and your payment date depends on when you first applied. If your usual payment date falls on a weekend, you’ll receive it on the previous working day.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Payment Dates
PIP is usually paid every four weeks, and the payment date depends on when you first started receiving it.
Other Benefit Payment Dates for March 2025
For most other benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), and Carer’s Allowance, payments follow a similar schedule:
- Paid every two weeks or monthly, depending on the benefit type
- No changes to payment dates in March, as there are no bank holidays
Benefit Increases Coming in April 2025
From April 2025, several benefits, including PIP and Universal Credit, will increase.
The inflation-linked increase is 1.7%, based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate from September 2024.
New Universal Credit Rates (April 2025)
- Single under 25 → £316.98 (+£5.30)
- Single 25 or over → £400.14 (+£6.69)
- Couples both under 25 → £497.55 (+£8.32)
- Couples, one or both 25 or over → £628.10 (+£10.50)
New Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Rates (April 2025)
Daily Living Component
- Standard rate → £73.90
- Enhanced rate → £110.40
Mobility Component
- Standard rate → £29.20
- Enhanced rate → £77.05
Key Deadlines and Important Changes in March 2025
There are several important deadlines and policy changes happening at the end of March:
March 31, 2025 – End of the Household Support Fund:
- This fund provides extra help for vulnerable households. If you haven’t applied yet, check eligibility at your local council website.
March 31, 2025 – Deadline for Winter Fuel Payment Claims:
- The Winter Fuel Payment helps pensioners with heating costs. If you haven’t applied, visit gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment.
March 31, 2025 – Universal Credit Migration Deadline:
- Some recipients of legacy benefits like Tax Credits, Income Support, and Housing Benefit must switch to Universal Credit by this date.
What Should You Do Next?
- Check your payment dates – Log into your Universal Credit, PIP, or pension account to see your upcoming payments.
- Prepare for the April benefit increase – Calculate your new benefit amounts and adjust your budget accordingly.
- Apply for additional support if needed – The Household Support Fund closes March 31, 2025, so apply before the deadline.
- Avoid scams – The DWP will never call, text, or email you asking for personal details regarding payment changes. If you receive a suspicious message, report it to Action Fraud.
Conclusion
March 2025 benefit and pension payments will be issued as usual, with no bank holiday disruptions. However, from April 2025, Universal Credit, PIP, and State Pension benefits will increase, providing additional support for claimants.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
A senior at Yale-NUS College with interests in developmental and labour economics, as well as creative non-fiction and poetry. Currently, I’m studying as an Economics major and an Arts and Humanities minor (focusing on Creative Writing) with heavy involvement in the Singaporean journalism scene and involved in research on economic history and educational policy. I’m working as an author for The Octant, Yale-NUS’ student publication, as a writer for Wingspan, Yale-NUS’ alumni magazine, and as a tutor for the NUS Libraries Writer’s Centre. | Linkedin