UK households claiming any of these 12 benefits are being warned that payments will arrive in bank accounts earlier than normal this month.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that benefits due to be paid between December 25, 2024 and January 2, 2025 will be made early due to Christmas and New Year.
The DWP says that the earlier payment is to ensure benefits claimants get the support that they need over Christmas, but households are warned that it may affect how they budget their spending in the following month.
Universal Credit claimants that are due to receive their payment on Wednesday, December 25, will now get it on Tuesday, December 24 instead. And those due to receive their payment on Wednesday, January 1 will instead get paid on Tuesday, December 31.
The DWP has confirmed the following breakdown of payment dates over Christmas and New Year:
Universal Credit
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, December 25, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Thursday, December 26, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, January 1, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
All other DWP benefits
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, December 25, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Thursday, December 26, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Friday, December 27, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, January 1, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
If you’re payment is due on Thursday, January 2, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
Tax Credits
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, December 25, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Thursday, December 26, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Friday, December 27, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re payment is due on Wednesday, January 1, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
If you’re payment is due on Thursday, January 2, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
Child Benefit
If you’re payment is due on Monday, December 30, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
The change in payment dates means that claimants will have to make their money last a bit longer until their next payment arrives in January next year. You don’t need to do anything if your payment date changes in December, as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
If you aren’t sure when your payment usually falls, here’s a reminder of how often the following benefits are paid by the DWP and HMRC:
Universal Credit – paid every month
Pension Credit – usually paid every four weeks
Disability Living Allowance – usually paid every four weeks
Personal Independence Payment – usually paid every four weeks
Attendance Allowance – paid every four weeks
Carer’s Allowance – paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
Employment Support Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Income Support – usually paid every two weeks
Jobseeker’s Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Maternity Allowance – paid every two or four weeks
Child Benefit (paid by HMRC) – usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parents or you or your partner get certain benefits
Tax Credits (paid by HMRC) – paid every four weeks or weekly
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