The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have confirmed festive changes for people on State Pension and benefits who have scheduled payments due to arrive on the bank holidays over Christmas and New Year. Most payments which fall between Christmas Eve and Wednesday, December 28 will be paid on Friday, December 23.
The exception to this is Universal Credit as DWP confirmed that payments due on December 28 will be paid as normal. However, people expecting a payment which doesn’t arrive in their bank account on the specified date, or those who need to get in touch with their Work Coach, Jobcnetre Plus or a certain department at DWP over the festive fortnight, need to be aware that offices and phone lines will be closed on the bank holidays.
DWP confirmed that offices may also close earlier. Below is everything you need to know about the opening hours and a reminder of the early payments being made between December 23 and the start of January.
Changes to Jobcentre Plus opening times over Christmas and New Year
- Friday, December 23 - Offices are open as usual. Phone lines are open until 4pm
- Monday, December 26 - Offices and phone lines are closed
- Tuesday, December 27 - Offices and phone lines are closed
- Wednesday, December 28 - Offices are closed. Phone lines are open until 4pm
- Thursday, December 29 - Offices are open as usual. Phone lines are open until 4pm
- Friday, December 30 - Offices are open as usual. Phone lines are open until 4pm
- Monday, January 2 - Offices and phone lines are closed
- Tuesday, January 3 - Offices are closed. Phone lines are open until 4pm
For details about opening hours in England and Wales, visit the GOV.UK website here.
DWP payment dates over Christmas and New Year
DWP benefit payments 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)
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
- All 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
Child Benefit payments due to be made on Tuesday, January 3rd will go ahead as planned. However, for some people, the payments may be delayed due to the bank holiday in Scotland.
Advice on GOV.UK states: "HMRC will issue your payment on the normal date, but your bank may not process it straight away.
"Check with your bank for the date you’ll get your payment."
Tax Credit payment dates over Christmas and New Year
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)
HMRC advises that if your Tax Credits payment is late, you should check the payment date on your award notice and contact your bank before calling them - more details here.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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