Early payment dates for benefits over Christmas

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Anyone due to receive their payment on or between 25 to 28 December will receive their payment early on Christmas Eve

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the dates that people will receive benefits over the Christmas and New Year period, including early date payments for Universal Credit, PIP and the State Pension.

With Christmas Day and Boxing Day falling on Saturday and Sunday, this year’s bank holidays fall on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December.

This means anyone who was due to receive their payment on or between 25 to 28 December will as a result receive their payment on Christmas Eve (Friday 24 December).

With New Year also falling on the weekend and followed by a bank holiday on Monday 3 January, those who are paid on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of the month will receive their payment on Friday 31 December instead.

Those who are usually paid on the 29th, 30th or 31st of the month will receive their payments on those dates as usual.

David Rutley, Minister for Welfare Delivery, said: “Making these payments early means people will receive their money sooner rather than later, an especially welcome move at this time of the year.”

The full list of payments affected are:

• 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
• Tax Credits (such as Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit