While the run-up to Christmas is an exciting time for everyone, it can cause logistical issues for many institutions.
This is due to the fact that December is full of bank holidays which can make it difficult for scheduled payments to go through on time. For benefit recipients, this may mean that your scheduled payments up to Christmas may be different than usual.
Fortunately, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a work around for this so that you will generally not receive a late payment if your due date lands on a bank holiday. In most cases, your payment will be made on the prior working day to your due date if it falls on a bank holiday, however, there are some exceptions.
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We've compiled how different benefits will be affected by the Christmas bank holidays as well as when you should expect to receive a payment.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is generally paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, however, this will differ if its due date lands on a bank holiday. In this case, it is usually paid early if it's due on a bank holiday.
Due dates for bank holidays
- December 26 (Will be paid on December 23)
- December 27 (Will be paid on December 23)
Tax Credits
The DWP will generally pay tax credits every four weeks, unless you chose to get paid weekly on your claim form. If you're Tax Credits payment is due on a bank holiday then it will likely be paid early.
Due dates for bank holidays
- December 26 (Will be paid on December 23)
- December 27 (Will be paid on December 23)
- December 29 (Will be paid on December 28 - England and Scotland only)
- January 2, 2023 (Will be paid on December 30, 2022)
- January 3, 2023 (Will be paid on December 30, 2022)
- January 4, 2023 (Will be paid January 3, 2023 - England and Northern Ireland only)
Other Benefits
If your benefit payment date is due on a weekend or bank holiday in the coming months then you will likely be paid on the prior working day. You can check when your benefit payment due date by noting when you were last paid and comparing it to the following periods 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
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