With Christmas fast approaching people are rightly thinking about how to manage their finances during the festive period. The cost of living crisis is putting major pressure on millions of households with huge inflation, energy prices which are 95% higher than last winter and the Bank of England warning the UK faces its longest recession in more than a century.
The government has rolled out a number of financial support packages in a bid to ease the crisis - the DWP began rolling out a £324 payment to millions of people on means-tested benefits on Tuesday, November 8 while all households are also getting £400 off their energy bills over six months from October.
With December usually an expensive month, many of those hardest hit by the crisis will be more worried than ever about making ends meet, and many will be relying on their usual benefits payments to help. The way Christmas falls this year will also mean changes to benefits payment dates, and the dates for those receiving child benefit and tax credits have now been announced by HMRC. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
Read more: All the DWP benefit payment dates over Christmas
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year which means Boxing Day is on a Monday. However, the bank holiday status for that date has been moved to Tuesday, December 27. This means that benefits and payments which are due on those dates may be made earlier.
Payments affected by bank holidays are typically made on the first working day before, which would be Friday, December 23. Here's how that will affect you if you're getting working tax credits or child tax credits:
Payment due on Monday, December 26: Payment will be made on Friday, December 23
Payment due on Tuesday, December 27: Payment will be made on Friday, December 23
Payment due on Wednesday, December 28: Payment will be made on Friday, December 23
Payment due on Thursday, December 29: Payment will be made on Wednesday, December 28 (Scotland and England only)
The changes also affect people getting child benefit or guardian's allowance - here are the new dates for those:
Payment due on Monday, December 26: Payment will be made on Friday, December 23
Payment due on Tuesday, December 27: Payment will be made on Friday, December 23
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