New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means days at the start of the first week of 2023 are classed as bank holidays. Monday, January 2, is an ‘observed’ bank holiday across the UK while Tuesday, January 3, is classed as a ‘substitute’ bank holiday - but only in Scotland.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have already confirmed changes to State Pension, Tax Credits and benefits due on certain dates over the festive fortnight. Social Security Scotland has also announced changes for devolved benefits, including Adult Disability, Child Disability and Scottish Child Payments due between December 24 and January 6.
Payments affected by bank holidays are typically made on the first working day before, which would be Friday, December 30. However, all payments due on Tuesday, January 3rd will be made as normal except in Scotland where they will also arrive on Friday, December 30 - except Child Benefit.
Guidance from HMRC 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.”
Below are all the payment date changes over Christmas and New year, you can find the revised payment dates for Scottish benefits 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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