Payment dates for various claimants over Christmas have now been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following Bank Holiday changed.
Universal Credit alongside other payments are generally made on the same day every month, however, dates can sometimes change as they coincide with weekends and bank holidays. This year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday with Boxing Day landing on a Monday, resulting in the Christmas Day bank holiday moving to Tuesday, December 27.
Therefore benefits and payments from both the DWP and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which are due to be paid on December 25 through to December 27 will instead be paid earlier this month. Both the DWP and HMRC have confirmed the changes for the state pension and benefits and released which dates they will be paid on, the Mirror reports.
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If your benefit payment is due on December 25, 26, or 27 then you will receive it on Friday, December 23. Meanwhile, if you're expecting your benefit payment on Wednesday, December 28, you will instead receive it on the prior Friday.
If you claim Universal Credit and are expecting a payment on Wednesday, December 28, it will be paid as usual on this date. HMRC confirmed that those waiting on Tax Credit payments on the previous dates will instead receive it on the Friday just before Christmas - those expecting their payment on Wednesday, December 28 will similarly see it on that Friday.
For those based in England and Scotland who are due to receive Tax Credits on Thursday, December 29, it will instead be paid a day earlier. As the New Year falls on a weekend, the bank holiday will be on Monday, January 2 which may affect some benefit payments.
If you are due to receive a benefit payment on January 2, you will instead receive it early on Friday, December 30. Similarly, if you live in Scotland and are expecting a payment on Tuesday, January 3, you will receive it on Friday, December 30.
However, if you receive Universal Credit payments, then it will be paid on January 3 as usual.
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.”
Which benefits will be affected by the festive bank holiday changes?
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)
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