Some people are set to receive their benefits a few days early ahead of New Year. The bank holiday over New Year's weekend means that many will get their usual benefit payments a couple of days early for the second time this month, the Chronicle reports.
Last week saw claimants on universal credit, PIP, other benefits and the state pension receive their money early due to Christmas being on a Sunday. This meant Boxing Day fell on a Monday and the usual Christmas bank holiday was shifted to Tuesday, December 27, resulting in anyone due to receive payments between Christmas Day and Tuesday getting their money on Friday, December 23 instead.
New Year's Day also falls on a Sunday this year, meaning benefit payments won't be affected on New Year's Day itself, but they will be impacted on the bank holiday taking place on Monday, January 2. However, not all claimants will be affected. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up to our dedicated newsletter here.
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According to the GOV.UK website, the New Year bank holiday will affect those due to receive the following benefits or payments from the DWP or HMRC on Monday, January 2:
- 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
Anyone due to receive any of the above payments on that date will instead be paid early on Friday, December 30. That means you should see your money appearing in your account today, just in time for the New Year's weekend.
Normal payment schedules will resume on Tuesday, January 3 with the exception of tax credits. If you are due to receive your tax credits on Tuesday, January 3 you will also see your money arrive early on Friday, December 30. If your tax credits are due to arrive on Wednesday, January 4, they will instead be paid on Tuesday, January 3. If you're due a different payment before or after Monday, January 2, you will be paid on your usual date.
If you haven't received your payment you can call the helplines for advice. For state pension call the pension service on 0800 731 7898. For jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income support, incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance (ESA), call 0800 169 0310. For PIP call 0800 121 4433 and for disability living allowance call 0800 121 4600 if you were born after April 8, 1948, and 0800 731 0122 if you were born on or before that date. For carer's allowance call 0800 731 0297 and for attendance allowance call 0800 731 0122.
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