State pensioners across the UK will get a Christmas boost this month as their State Pension payments will arrive earlier than normal.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has warned households that their usual payment date will change in December, which may affect how people budget their finances.
The earlier payments come due to two bank holidays falling in December on Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26), followed by a third bank holiday on New Years Day (January 1).
If your usual payment date falls on any of these days, then you can expect to receive your money earlier than normal – giving households an extra bit of cash before Christmas.
The DWP said: “If your payment date is on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for tax credits and Child Benefit.”
The DWP will pay claimants on the final working day before Christmas, which this year will be Tuesday, December 24. As such, if your payment is due on any of the bank holidays, then your new payment date will be as follows:
If you’re due to be paid on Wednesday December 25, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 24
If you’re due to be paid on Thursday December 26, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday December 24
If you’re due to be paid on Wednesday, January 1, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 31
The change in payment dates means that pensioners will have to make their money last a bit longer until their next payment arrives in January.
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of your National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
00 to 19 – paid on Monday
20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
80 to 99 – paid on Friday
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.
Other DWP and HMRC benefits payment dates will also be affected by the bank holidays next month. 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
