A series of bank holidays in December and early January means there will be a shift in payment dates for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) benefit recipients. Knowing when money will drop into bank accounts is essential especially with the cost of living crisis and additional expense of Christmas.
In addition, Government offices and phone lines will be closed on certain dates over the holiday period - so make sure you know when payments should be made so that if you do have a query you can call while phone lines are staffed. Payments will be made automatically into the same bank account benefits are usually paid into.
The first days that have an impact on payment dates is Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday this year, and Boxing Day, which falls on a Monday - that means that bank holiday status is attached to Monday, December 26, and Tuesday, December 27. Therefore, benefits and payments from the DWP or HMRC due on those dates will be made earlier. Individual dates are detailed below but as a starting point, benefit payments affected by the first seasonal bank holidays will arrive on Friday, December 23.
Read more: New state pension rates for 2023 as payments for some hiked to more than £815 a month
Both DWP and HMRC have confirmed changes to payment dates over Christmas and New Year for the state pension and benefits including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Child Benefit and Tax Credits. According to the Daily Express, the DWP benefits that may be affected include:
- Universal Credit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
People should tell the office that pays their benefit if they do not get their payment on the day it’s scheduled.
Payment dates in detail
Christmas payment date changes
All payments due on Monday, December 26 will be made on Friday, December 23
All payments due on Tuesday, December 27 will be made on Friday, December 23
Universal Credit payments due on Wednesday, December 28 will be paid as normal
Other DWP payments due on Wednesday, December 28 will be made on Friday, December 23
New Year payment date changes
All payments due on Monday, January 2 will be made on Friday, December 30
All payments due on Tuesday, January 3 will be made as normal except in Scotland where they will arrive on Friday, December 30.
Child Benefit payment dates over Christmas
These payment date changes affect people receiving Child Benefit or Guardian's Allowance.
Christmas
Payments due on Monday, December 26 will be made on Friday, December 23
Payments due on Tuesday, December 27 will be made on Friday, December 23
New Year
Payments due on Monday, January 2 will be made on Friday, December 30
These payment date changes affect people receiving Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits.
Christmas
Payments due on Monday, December 26 will be made on Friday, December 23
Payments due on Tuesday, December 27 will be made on Friday, December 23
Payments due on Wednesday, December 28 will be made on Friday, December 23
Payments due on Thursday, December 29 will be made on Wednesday, December 28 (Scotland and England only)
New Year
Payments due on Monday, January 2 will be made on Friday, December 30
Payments due on Tuesday, January 3 will be made on Friday, December 30
Payments due on Wednesday, January 4 will be made on Tuesday, January 3 (England and Northern Ireland only)
For more information, visit the Government website.
READ NEXT:
BBC Strictly Come Dancing spoiler news for semi-final 'stresses' fans as leak fails
Nottingham business owner calls neighbourhood 'hell' amid crime concerns
Lewis Capaldi offering 'keep warm' advice has fans in stitches as he shares Greggs Primark colab
Met Office forecasts wintry showers as weather warning issued for parts of Nottinghamshire
Woman tests pigs in blankets from 7 supermarkets but only one 'worth eating on Christmas Day'
