SOME households will see benefit payment dates change over the festive period, including those on Universal Credit.
If you usually get paid on the 26th or 27th of each month you should be paid on December 23 this year.
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That’s because Boxing Day counts as a bank holiday, and the 27th is a “substituted” bank holiday day for Christmas Day and payments aren’t made on these days.
The same goes for if you usually receive your Universal Credit payment on the 2nd of each month as January 2, 2023 is a bank holiday.
If you usually get paid Universal Credit on this day, you’ll get it on December 30, 2022.
Plus, if you usually get paid on the 24th or 25th of each month you should receive your payment on December 23 as the 24th and 25th fall on the weekend this year.
If a payment date lands on the weekend it’s usually made the first working day before then.
You don’t need to do anything if your usual date for getting Universal Credit falls on a bank holiday.
But you should factor any early payments into your budget and make sure it lasts you long enough to take you through to the next month.
If your payment date falls on a normal date you’ll get your money as usual.
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What other benefit payment dates will change over Christmas?
A number of other benefit payments are likely to follow the same changes too over the festive period.
They are:
- State Pension
- Employment support allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
The same rules apply. If you’re due a payment on December 26 or 27, you should get the payment on December 23.
If you normally get paid on the 24th or 25th of each month you should receive your payment on December 23.
If you usually get paid these benefits on the 2nd of each month, you’ll get it on December 30, 2022.
This applies to those on Tax Credits as well.
Those on Child Benefits who usually get paid on the 26th or 27th of the month will be paid on December 23.
For bank holidays in Scotland and Northern Ireland which are different, households there may be paid after their usual payment date.
If you don’t receive your benefit payment on time, it’s worth checking with your bank first before contacting the DWP.
If something’s not right, you can also submit a complaint to the DWP.
Millions on benefits will receive a £10 tax-free Christmas bonus in the first full week of December this year.
For the full list of benefits who will get the payment, you can read our guide here.
Plus, free cash you can get on Universal Credit this Christmas you don’t have to pay back.
