Millions of people across the UK depend on financial help from the Department for Work and Pensions each month. These payments include a wide range of support, such as pensions, Universal Credit, disability benefits, and more. For many households, the timing of these payments is vital for staying on top of bills, rent, food costs, and other living expenses.
With the cost of living still affecting many families and pensioners, the government has increased benefit rates in 2025 and rolled out additional payments for those who are eligible. While no new cost-of-living payments have been announced for October 2025, regular benefit and pension payments will continue to be issued without delays.
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October 2025 Payments Will Be Paid as Normal
The good news for October is that there are no bank holidays in England, Scotland, or Wales this month, so no payment dates will change. Most DWP and HMRC payments are made directly into bank accounts on a fixed schedule. If a payment day falls on a weekend or public holiday, it is usually sent early, but that will not be the case this month.
The payments that will go out as normal in October 2025 include Universal Credit, State Pension, Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). These will all be paid on the scheduled day unless something is wrong with the individual’s account or claim.
State Pension Payments Based on NI Number
The State Pension is paid every four weeks, and the day it is received depends on the final two digits of a person’s National Insurance (NI) number. This schedule has been used for many years to organise payments across the week. The following table shows how the NI number affects the day a pension is paid:
| National Insurance Number Ending | Day Pension Is Paid |
|---|---|
| 00 to 19 | Monday |
| 20 to 39 | Tuesday |
| 40 to 59 | Wednesday |
| 60 to 79 | Thursday |
| 80 to 99 | Friday |
Since no holidays are disrupting the payment cycle, everyone will receive their money on their regular day throughout the month.
When Other Benefits Are Paid
Each type of benefit has its own payment cycle. While the State Pension is paid every four weeks, other benefits follow different schedules depending on the type of support and the individual’s situation. Below is a quick breakdown of how often each major benefit is normally paid:
| Benefit Type | Payment Frequency |
|---|---|
| Universal Credit | Monthly |
| Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | Every 2 weeks |
| Income Support | Every 2 weeks |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) | Every 2 weeks |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | Every 4 weeks |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA) | Every 4 weeks |
| Attendance Allowance | Every 4 weeks |
| Carer’s Allowance | Weekly or every 4 weeks |
| Child Benefit | Every 4 weeks (weekly in some cases) |
| Pension Credit | Every 4 weeks |
There are no expected changes to this pattern in October, and all claimants should receive their money on their expected payment day.
Cost of Living Support: Where Things Stand in October
So far in 2025, the government has issued one major cost-of-living payment of £450 to eligible households earlier in the year. This payment was given to help people manage the rising costs of food, bills and rent. However, no new cost-of-living payment is scheduled for October at this time.
The current rates of benefits already include increases made in April 2025 to reflect inflation and wage growth. These increased amounts are what claimants will continue to receive each month unless any new announcements are made. Here are some key changes that took place earlier in the year:
- Working-age benefits, including Universal Credit, ESA, PIP, and Carer’s Allowance, increased by 1.7% in April 2025.
- The State Pension increased by 4.1%, following the triple lock commitment to raise it based on the highest of inflation, average wages or 2.5%.
Important Changes Coming in 2026
The government has also confirmed some policy changes that will take effect from April 2026, which could affect new and existing benefit claimants. Here’s a list of the key changes you should know about:
- All Universal Credit claimants will receive above-inflation increases starting in April 2026. The first rise is expected to be at least 2.3%, with similar increases planned every year until 2029.
- The health-related element of Universal Credit for new claimants will be reduced from £105 to £50 per month and frozen until 2029. This will only affect new applications; existing claimants will not see this cut if they remain on the benefit.
Due to this cut, people who believe they are eligible for the health-related payment within Universal Credit may want to apply before April 2026 to receive the higher rate.
Legacy Benefits to Be Moved to Universal Credit
The DWP is continuing with its long-term plan to shift people from old “legacy” benefits to Universal Credit. These legacy benefits include:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The government plans to complete this move by January 2026. Most people affected should have already received a letter explaining the transfer and what action is needed.
October 2025 is expected to be a stable month for benefit and pension payments, with all money going out as planned. There are no bank holidays to cause delays, and no new cost-of-living payments have been added for this month. However, people are still receiving increased benefit amounts due to earlier uprating in April.
With major changes coming next year, including higher payments and cuts to health-related support for new Universal Credit claimants, people need to keep track of what they receive and check if they are eligible for any additional help.
Thank you for the information.
When in October are we going to get the cost of living payment