Individuals expecting benefit payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may receive their benefits early over the Christmas period. When a payment date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, payments for benefits including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Pension Credit and Personal Independent Payment are typically dispatched early.
The following week, Brits also have a bank holiday on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year's Day. Here's all you need to know about how benefit payment dates will alter over Christmas and New Year, reports the MEN.
This year Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday and Boxing Day, which is a bank holiday, falls on Thursday. The following week, Brits also get a bank holiday on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year's Day.
Here's everything you need to know about how benefit payment dates will change over Christmas and New Year.
When are benefits paid?
How often you get paid and on what date depends on what type of benefits you claim. For example, Universal Credit is paid to claimants on the same day each month.
Tax Credits are typically paid by HMRC every four weeks or weekly and Child Benefit is usually every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
According to gov.uk, benefits are paid:
- Attendance Allowance - Usually every four weeks
- Carer's Allowance - Weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Child Benefit - Usually every four weeks, or weekly if you're a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits
- Disability Living Allowance - Usually every four weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance - Usually every two weeks
- Income Support - Usually every two weeks
- Jobseeker's Allowance - Usually every two weeks
- Pension Credit - Usually every four weeks
- Personal Independence Payment - Usually every four weeks
- State Pension - Usually every four weeks
- Tax credits - Every four weeks or weekly
- Universal Credit - Every month
What are the payment date changes over Christmas and New Year?
The table below, compiled from information on gov.uk, tells you when you will get your benefits if your payment date lands on a day over the Christmas period.
| When your payment is due | When Universal Credit will be paid | When Child Benefit will be paid | When Tax Credits will be paid | When all other benefits will be paid |
| Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) | Tuesday, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 | ||
| Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) | Tuesday, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 | |
| Thursday, December 26 (Boxing Day) | Tuesday, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 | |
| Friday, December 27 | Friday, December 27 | Tuesday, December 24 (Northern Ireland only) | Tuesday, December 24 | |
| Monday, December 30 | Tuesday, December 31 | |||
| Tuesday, December 31 (New Year's Eve) | | |||
| Wednesday, January 1 | Tuesday, December 31 | Tuesday, December 31 | Tuesday, December 31 | |
| Thursday, January 2 | Thursday, January 2 | Tuesday, December 31 | Tuesday, December 31 |
If your benefit payment date is changing you won't need to do anything to ensure you receive the payment - it will still be sent automatically. Your payment date will go back to normal following the bank holiday.
The amount you're due to be paid will also remain the same unless your personal circumstances have changed.
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. You should tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.
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