Benefit payment dates are set to change over the festive period - and it could leave some people better off.
After the Cold Weather Payments scheme opened on November 1, some recipients could pocket an extra £25 a week if temperatures drop.
And Gloucestershire Live reports that pensioners who qualify for the scheme could get an extra £140 to help with their heating bills.
Not everybody can benefit from these but majority of benefit recipients can expect disruption to their payment dates because of the festive bank holiday dates.
Those on Universal Credit or the State Pension, for example, may experience a change to their payment schedule at Christmas and New Year.
It affects those whose payments are due on bank holidays over these periods and typically means they'll be paid on the last working day before.
The amended date however depends on the type of benefit and not everyone will be affected - so here are the changes coming next month.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit payments are usually made monthly, except in Scotland where some receive two payments a month.
The benefit, which replaced many previous welfare payments, will be affected by the upcoming festive period.
This means that some recipients will see payments in their accounts earlier than they're due - if they fall on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day:
- Payment due : Wednesday, December 25. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due : Thursday, December 26. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due : Wednesday, January 1. Payment sent : Tuesday, December 31
Tax Credit
Tax Credit payments due on the previously mentioned bank holiday dates will also be scheduled for earlier in the affected weeks.
This means that recipients of this benefit can now expect payments to adhere to the following schedule:
- Payment due : Wednesday, December 25. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due : Thursday, December 26. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due: Friday, December 27. Payment sent: Tuesday, December 24 (Northern Ireland only).
- Payment due : Wednesday, January 1. Payment sent : Tuesday, December 31.
- Payment due: Thursday, January 2. Payment sent: Tuesday, December 31 (Scotland only).
There is often variety in the rescheduling of Tax Credit payments, and as is shown above, those in Northern Ireland and Scotland may be further affected due to their extended payment dates.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit recipients are unlikely to be affected by the upcoming bank holidays as the benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
However, there may be some individuals who have their festive payments due on incompatible dates and so should be aware of the alternative schedule:
- Payment due : Wednesday, December 25. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due : Thursday, December 26. Payment sent : Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due : Wednesday, January 1. Payment sent : Tuesday, December 31.
Other benefits incl. State Pension and PIP
It's not just Universal Credit and the other mentioned benefits which are affected by bank holidays next month.
The following benefits may also see amended payment dates as well:
- Attendance Allowance
- State Pension
- Carer's Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payments
These benefits - in cases where payment is due on a bank holiday - should also follow the standard rule of being reschedule to the working day before such:
- Payment due: Wednesday, December 25. Payment sent: Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due: Thursday, December 26. Payment sent: Tuesday December 24.
- Payment due: Wednesday, January 1. Payment sent: Tuesday, December 31.
- I f you don't get your benefits payment on the amended date mentioned above then you should contact the Department for Work and Pensions as soon as possible on the revised date.
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If they don't arrive when expected
It's important to note that the Department will not be available on the bank holidays themselves so it's important to get in touch on the working day beforehand - which should be the revised payment date itself.
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Available helpline numbers for the various affected benefits include:
- Universal Credit help on 0800 328 9344.
- The Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
- JSA, Income-support, Incapacity Benefit or ESA help on 0800 169 0310.
- Child Benefit assistance on 0300 200 3100.
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