Christmas benefits are starting to land in back accounts today - but people who have not received their cash are urged to call the payment authorities as soon as possible.
There's a four-day holiday with Christmas Day on Sunday, Boxing Day on Monday, and the Christmas Day bank holiday moved to Tuesday December 28. This will mean benefit payments from DWP and HMRC will be going in today (Friday) for many people.
So it's important to check your account because helplines and Government offices will close for the Christmas break so you won't be able to get hold of anyone. Payments due on Friday should start showing in bank accounts in the morning.
Read More: Universal Credit claimants sanctioned by DWP can now ask for money back
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the payment changes, along with HM Revenue and Customs, and how they affect payments including Universal Credit, State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Child Benefit, reports Birmingham Live.
Guy Opperman, Minister for employment, said: "Our benefit system offers a vital safety net to millions of people and will continue to provide essential support over the festive period. We are bringing forward payment dates to ensure customers have their benefits in advance, taking account of the upcoming bank holidays."
The list of payments affected include:
- 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
- Universal Credit
- Tax credits (such as Working Tax Credit)
Christmas payment dates for all DWP benefits except Universal Credit
These include State Pension, Pension Credit, Income Support, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
These payments are usually tied to a specific weekday every two or four weeks and are never arranged to fall on a weekend. Below is how any usual weekday payments will move. Note that for State Pension, the day of the week you normally get it depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number.
- Due date Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day bank holiday) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Tuesday, December 27 (substitute bank holiday for Dec 25) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Wednesday, December 28 - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
If the money hasn't arrived in your account, you'll need to call the helplines. For State Pension, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898 (open 8am to 5pm on December 23). The service will be closed on December 26 and 27, and open on December 28 from 8am to 5pm for calls about missing payments only.
For Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), call 0800 169 0310 (open 8am to 4pm on December 23). Offices are closed until Thursday, but helplines reopen on December 28 until 4pm for missing or urgent payments only.
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. Helplines are closed on December 26 and 27, and open on December 28 for enquiries about missing or urgent payments only.
For Carer's Allowance, call 0800 731 0297 and for Attendance Allowance call 0800 731 0122. These helplines will be closed December 26, 27 and 28.
Christmas payment dates for Universal Credit
Universal Credit is tied to a specific date every month for each claimant, depending on when they first applied. But this is moved if the date falls on a weekend or bank holiday.
- Due date Saturday, December 24 - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Sunday, December 25 - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day bank holiday) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Tuesday, December 27 (substitute bank holiday for Dec 25) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Wednesday, December 28 - will be paid in as normal on Wednesday, December 28
If it's not in your account, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644. It's open from 8am to 5pm on December 23, closing earlier than the usual weekday time of 6pm. The helpline will be shut on December 26 and 27 and is open on December 28 only for enquiries about missing payments.
Christmas payment dates for Child Benefit (from HMRC)
Child Benefit is paid out by HMRC and usually goes in on a Monday or Tuesday. This could change over the festive period.
- Due date Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day bank holiday) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Tuesday, December 27 (substitute bank holiday for Dec 25) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
If it isn't in your account, call the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100. It's open 8am to 4pm on December 23, closing earlier than the usual weekday time of 6pm. The helpline is then closed until December 28.
Christmas payment dates for Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit (from HMRC)
Tax credit payments are made by HMRC every week or every four weeks. They are made on a weekday and never at a weekend.
- Due date Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day bank holiday) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Tuesday, December 27 (substitute bank holiday for Dec 25) - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
- Due date Wednesday, December 28 - will be paid in on Friday, December 23
If it's not in your account, call the Tax Credits helpline on 0345 300 3900. It's open 8am to 4pm on December 23, closing earlier than the usual weekday time of 6pm. Helplines are then closed and reopen on December 28.
Read Next:
DWP could track your social media activity over Christmas and New Year to detect benefit fraud
Parents on Universal Credit forced to turn down work due to huge childcare costs
Forest Hall man is one of millions waiting to hear outcome of £1,500 DWP backpay case
Martin Lewis has urgent Universal Credit message for households earning under £40,000
How to get help if you’re struggling with the cost of food - including voucher schemes
