Finance

DWP confirms early Universal Credit and other benefit payments for New Year


The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed changes to benefit payment dates for the New Year due to the upcoming bank holiday.

While benefit payment dates typically follow a set schedule, bank holidays can cause adjustments. For many, knowing exactly when financial support will arrive is vital for managing monthly budgets.

New Year’s Day, falling on January 1, 2025, is a bank holiday, meaning payments expected on this day will land either the day before or the day after, depending on the claimant’s location.

In a recent post on social media platform X, the DWP shared a list of revised payment dates along with this statement: “Your payment dates may be brought forward due to the festive period.”

It added: “Please contact us straight away if there is a problem with your payment.”

In England and Wales, Universal Credit and other benefit claimants expecting payments on Wednesday, January 1, will receive them tomorrow (Tuesday, December 31).

In Scotland, the schedule differs slightly. Universal Credit claimants expecting payments on Wednesday, January 1, will instead receive them on Thursday, January 2.

Other benefit claimants in Scotland expecting their payments on Wednesday will receive them earlier, on Tuesday, December 31.

DWP benefit payment dates

The date benefits are paid depends on the type of benefit and when a person started claiming. People can work out their next benefit payment date by checking when they last received one.

Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and the State Pension are usually paid every four weeks.

Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, and Jobseeker’s Allowance are usually paid into accounts every two weeks.

Carer’s Allowance is usually paid weekly in advance or every four weeks. Child Benefit is also usually paid every four weeks. Although, this can also be paid weekly to single parents, or if they or their partner get certain benefits.

Tax Credits, such as Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits, are usually paid weekly or every four weeks.

Maternity Allowance is paid every two or four weeks, and Universal Credit is paid every month.

An analysis by Policy in Practice found the total amount of unclaimed welfare benefits and support has increased to £22.7billion, up from £19billion last year.

The report estimates that over eight million people could be missing out on an average of £2,700 per year in rights-based benefits.

A number of benefit calculators are available, such as those of Turn2us and Policy Practice, for people to check if they could be entitled for more support they aren’t aware of.

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