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State Funeral bank holiday: What’s happening to pay, benefits, food banks and house completions?

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
14/09/2022

The government confirmed the date of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will fall on Monday 19 September, and that it will be a bank holiday. What does this mean for your usual incomings and outgoings?

The bank holiday “will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning,” the government said.

Following confirmation of the date of the funeral, organisations were quick to announce what their plans were for Monday 19 September.

Here’s a round-up of what’s happening:

Banks and building societies

UK Finance said bank and building society branches will be closed but most telephone banking and online services will be open like a normal bank holiday.

The Building Societies Association, added: “We would recommend that building society customers plan accordingly and visit branches on alternative days.”

Salary payments

Whether you’re paid weekly or monthly, UK Finance said as with other bank holidays, such payments won’t be made on Monday 19 September.

It said: “Payments due on this date should instead appear in your account no later than the following day, Tuesday 20 September. On other bank holidays, some employers choose to make salary payments earlier than normal. Please speak to your employer if you have any questions regarding your salary payment”.

Direct debits, standing orders, cheques and faster payments

Direct debits and standing orders will not be processed on Monday 19 September. UK Finance said such payments should be processed no later than the following day, Tuesday 20 September.

Faster payments will continue to operate 24/7 while cheques will take an extra day to clear.

CHAPS and home moving/completions

The same-day cash settlement system (CHAPS) which is often used for high-value and time-critical payments, such as house purchases, will be closed, opening on Tuesday 20 September.

UK Finance said: “This includes where CHAPS payments are used for house purchase completions. Other organisations involved in the moving process may also be closed on Monday 19 September. Consumers due to move on 19 September should get in touch with relevant organisations such as their mortgage provider, conveyancer, removal firm etc. to understand the impact of the additional bank holiday on their planned move”.

Benefit payments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has put in place arrangements to ensure all benefits and credits that were due to be paid on Monday 19 September are credited to accounts by Friday 16 September, ahead of the bank holiday.

The full list of payments affected are:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • State Pension
  • Universal Credit
  • Child Benefit/Guardian’s Allowance
  • Working Tax Credits
  • Child Tax Credits

Food banks

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “Food banks in our network run sessions on different days and at different times. Food banks are best placed to make the right decision for their communities and will ensure everyone who needs support can access it as they do with every bank holiday. As each food bank is an independent charity, we’d encourage people who need support to contact their local food bank to check their opening hours.”

Supermarkets and retail

Many different retailers will be closing, with some convenience stores open for a few hours to cater for those who will be queuing to see the Queen lying in State.

Here’s what each one is doing:

Aldi: “As a mark of respect, all Aldi stores across the UK will close on Monday 19 September to allow our store colleagues to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.”

Asda: “As a mark of respect for Her Majesty The Queen, all Asda stores will be closed on Monday 19 September until 5pm to allow our customers and colleagues to recognise the passing of our late Monarch and commemorate her steadfast service to our nation.”

B&M: “As a mark of respect, all B&M Stores across the UK will be closed Monday 19 September to commemorate the passing of our late monarch.”

Co-op: “As a mark of respect and to give our colleagues, customers and members time to reflect and mourn, our stores will be closed on the 19 September until 5pm.”

John Lewis: Andrew Murphy, chief operating officer, The John Lewis Partnership said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen.  We will be closing our stores on the day of her funeral as a mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our Partners and customers.”

Iceland: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Royal Family.

“We have come to the decision to close all UK stores on Monday 19 September to allow our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and commemorate Her Majesty’s years of service. Any colleagues that were schedule to work on this day will still be paid in full.”

Lidl:
“In honour of Her Majesty and to allow our colleagues to pay their respects, we will be closing all our stores across England, Scotland and Wales on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral. Thank you to everyone for your understanding.”

M&S:
Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S said: “All of us at M&S – and indeed across the country and beyond – feel a real and deep sense of loss and sadness at the passing of Her Majesty, as well as huge respect for the grace with which His Majesty King Charles III and the wider Royal Family have led the nation in our mourning.

“It is right that we make changes to our operational arrangements on the day of the funeral to ensure our colleagues across our stores and distribution network can participate, whilst supporting customers as they show their respects too. That’s why on Monday 19th September we will cease customer delivery services and close M&S owned stores in the UK for the entire day, with some limited exceptions in London and Windsor, which will close for the duration of the service.”

Morrisons: “All our supermarkets will be closed on Monday 19 September as a mark of respect and so colleagues can pay tribute to Her Majesty. At 5pm, our petrol filling stations will reopen.”

Poundland: “As a mark of respect, all our UK stores will be closed on Monday 19 September as the country honours the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you for your understanding.”

Sainsbury’s: “In honour of Her Majesty and so our colleagues can pay their respects, all Sainsbury’s supermarkets, Habitat showrooms and Argos stores will be closed on Monday 19 September. This includes groceries online, and all Argos, habitat and Tu clothing deliveries. Selected Sainsbury’s convenience stores in London will stay open to support mourners coming into central London for the service. Our other convenience stores and petrol stations will open from 5pm to allow customers to pick up essentials”.

Tesco: Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, said: “We want to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, as well as our gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen for her unwavering service. On Monday 19 September, in order for our colleagues to pay their respects, our large stores will be closed all day and our Express stores will remain closed until 5pm.”

Online orders scheduled for Monday won’t be fulfilled so customers will need to reschedule their slot for another day.

Some central London and Windsor Tesco Express stores will be open throughout the day for customers attending the funeral, but they will close at 10pm. Staff who choose to work on the day will be paid a premium hourly rate in line with Tesco’s usual bank holiday pay.

Waitrose: Waitrose shops will close on the day of the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, but an exception will be made for six stores along the route of the funeral procession to “serve members of the public who we know will be lining the route for many hours”. These shops will, however, close for the funeral itself. The shops remaining open are Gloucester Road, Kings Cross Station, Knightsbridge, Windsor, Victoria Street and Victoria Bressenden Place.

Wilkinsons: “The whole Wilko family continues to mourn the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. As a mark of respect, we will be closing our stores all day on Monday 19 September so that our team members can commemorate the life and service of Her Majesty with their families. May she rest in peace.”