In the lead-up to Christmas Day, many people will be hoping their benefit payments come in in time to prepare for the festivities and expensive present-buying.
Due to the amount of bank holidays at the end of the year, many will be worried that their payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may not come through in time. However, the DWP have laid out a payment plan for throughout the Christmas period, to ease the stress on claimants.
The plan means that benefit claimants will generally not receive their money late, if the due date was scheduled to land on a bank holiday. In typical cases, payments will be made on the prior working day to the due date, if the payment date does land on a bank holiday.
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However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Read on below to see how different benefits will be affected by the Christmas bank holidays, and when you should receive payment.
Current due dates for benefits, and when they will be paid
- December 26 (Will be paid on December 23)
- December 27 (Will be paid on December 23)
- January 2, 2023 (Will be paid on December 30, 2022)
- January 3, 2023 (Will be paid on December 30, 2022)
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is typically paid each month on a Monday or Tuesday. This will differ if the due date is set to land on a bank holiday, however. In this case, it is usually paid early if it's due on a bank holiday.
Tax Credits
Tax Credits will be paid monthly by the DWP, unless the claimant chooses to have them paid weekly on their claim form. The benefit is likely to be paid early if it is due to land on a bank holiday.
All other benefits
If other benefit payment dates are due on weekends, or on bank holidays, it is likely that they will be paid on the prior working day. Checking this is simple: all you have to do is note when you were last paid, and compare it to the following dates provided by the DWP.
- Attendance Allowance: Usually paid every four weeks
- Carer's Allowance: Usually paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Disability Living Allowance: Usually paid every four weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): Usually paid every two weeks
- Income Support: Usually paid every two weeks
- Jobseeker's Allowance: Usually paid every two weeks
- Pension Credit: Usually paid every four weeks
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP): Usually paid every four weeks
- State Pension: Usually paid every four weeks
- Universal Credit : Roughly paid every month
You can view all the payment period dates for DWP benefits online.
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