Some benefits, including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be paid early to claimants as a result of the Christmas bank holidays. While UC payments are paid on the same date every months, and other benefits are paid every four weeks, this may change for some over the Christmas week.
Claimant's will know their usual payment dates. However as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, and Boxing Day falls on a Monday, the Christmas Day bank holiday will fall on Tuesday, December 27.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have both confirmed that payments expected on these dates will be paid out early, reports The Mirror.
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If your benefit is due to be paid on December 25, 26 or 27, it will instead be made on December 23. However, if your UC payment is due on Wednesday 28, it will arrive on that date as usual.
HMRC have also confirmed those expecting Tax Credit payments on these dates will also be paid on the Friday before Christmas - this includes people expecting payouts on December 28, as well as people in England and Scotland anticipating a payment on December 29.
As New Year's Day also falls on a weekend, the bank holiday will fall on Monday, January 2. Anyone expecting an affected benefit payment on this date will receive it earlier, on Friday, December 30.
The DWP reiterate 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)
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