The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the dates payments will be made to claimants over Christmas and New Year, with changes due to multiple bank holidays. Universal Credit and other payments are usually made on the same date each month, but dates have to change for some weekends and bank holidays.
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year and Boxing Day is on a Monday. This means the bank holiday status for Christmas day has been moved to Tuesday, December 27, reports The Mirror.
Benefits and payments from the DWP or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which are due on any date from December 25 to December 27 be made earlier. Both the DWP and HMRC have now confirmed changes to payment dates over Christmas and New Year for the state pension and benefits.
This means your benefit payment is due on December 25, 26 or 27 then it will be paid earlier on Friday, December 23. If you’re expecting your benefit payment on Wednesday, December 28, you should also be seeing it paid on the Friday before.
However, If you claim Universal Credit and you're expecting a benefit payment on Wednesday, December 28, then it will be paid as normal on this date. HMRC has also confirmed those expecting Tax Credit payments on these dates will also have it paid on the Friday before Christmas. This includes those expecting their payment on Wednesday 28.
If you are based in England and Scotland and have Tax Credit due on Thursday, December 29, you will have it paid a day earlier. With New Year also falling on a weekend, the bank holiday for New Year’s Day will be on Monday, January 2.
This means if you are due to receive a benefit payment on January 2, you will receive it earlier on Friday, December 30 instead.
If you live in Scotland and your expected payment date is Tuesday, January 3, you will receive your payment early on Friday, December 30. If you claim Universal Credit then it will be paid on January 3 as usual.
The DWP says that all the other payment dates during the festive period will remain unaffected and you’ll receive your money as normal. Guy Opperman, minister for employment said: “Our benefits 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 DWP benefits payments which will be affected by the festive bank holiday changes 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)
