Those who claim benefits including Universal Credit may find they get paid on a different date over Christmas and New Year.
For some people, the festive season means they’ll receive their benefit money early.
This is because there are three bank holiday dates coming up - and benefits won’t be paid out on these days, or on weekends.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend this year - so the following Monday and Tuesday (December 27 and December 28) will be replacement bank holidays.
The same goes for New Year’s Day, which is on a Saturday - this means there will be a replacement bank holiday on the next Monday (January 3).
Some benefits that fall on December 29 are also being paid early, despite it not being a bank holiday - we explain below.
Keep in mind that if you get paid early, you will need to make your money last longer as there will be a longer wait until your next payment.
Benefit payment dates over Christmas
All benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that are due between Saturday, December 25, through to Tuesday, December 28, will hit bank accounts on December 24.
This includes benefits such as Universal Credit, the state pension, child benefit and tax credits.
Benefits apart from Universal Credit that are due to be paid on December 29 will also be paid early, on December 24 - despite it not being a bank holiday.
Universal Credit is paid on the same day each month. Tax credits are typically paid every four weeks or weekly, while child benefit is usually every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
You won’t need to do anything if you are being paid early, as the money will still come through as normal.
- Expected payment date December 24 - will be paid on December 24
- Expected payment date December 25 - will be paid on December 24
- Expected payment date December 26 - will be paid on December 24
- Expected payment date December 27 - will be paid on December 24
- Expected payment date December 28 - will be paid on December 24
- Expected payment date December 29 - will be paid on December 24 (all benefits apart from Universal Credit, which will be paid on December 29 as normal)
- Expected payment date December 30 - will be paid on December 30
Are you worried about falling into debt because of Christmas? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Benefit payment dates over New Year
If you’re due to receive a DWP benefit between January 1 to January 3, you should receive your money on December 31 instead.
Monday, January 3, is a replacement bank holiday as January 1 falls on a Saturday this year.
Those living in Scotland who are due to get paid on January 4 will also be paid early on December 31 instead due to the extra bank holiday.
- Expected payment date December 31 - will be paid on December 31
- Expected payment date January 1 - will be paid on December 31
- Expected payment date January 2 - will be paid on December 31
- Expected payment date January 3 - will be paid on December 31
- Expected payment date January 4 - will be paid on December 4 (apart from in Scotland, where benefits will be paid on December 31)
List of benefits affected by Christmas and New Year
The full list of DWP payments affected are:
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Child Benefit
Disability Living Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Pension Credit
Personal Independence Payment
State Pension
Tax Credits (such as Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit
