MILLIONS on Universal Credit and other state benefits will receive their payments early this Christmas.
But the exact date you can expect your cash to come in depends on which benefits you’re on.
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Christmas falls on a Monday this year, so payments scheduled for this date will bought forward.
It’s important to know when your payments are due so that you can stay on track with your budgeting.
Plus, those on Universal Credit and other benefits will receive a Christmas bonus paid directly into their bank accounts.
We explain when you can expect your payments below.
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When will I get my payments and will payments be paid early?
Quite a few benefit payments will be affected to accommodate the bank holidays over Christmas and New Year.
The full list of benefits that will be paid early because of Christmas can be seen below:
It all depends on what day you usually get paid as to whether you will receive your benefits early.
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Universal Credit payments are one of the main ones that will be affected.
Unless another arrangement is in place Universal Credit payments are paid on the same date each month.
For example, if you are expecting to receive your payment on any of the following dates, you will get the money on Friday, December 22 this year.
- December 23
- December 24
- December 25
- December 26
Any payments that are expected on December 30, 31 or January 1 should come on Friday, December 29.
With other benefits, payments are usually tied to a certain day of the week rather than a date.
If this is the case, the money should be paid on the previous working day
How much is the DWP Christmas Bonus?
A tax-free £10 payment will be made to those on eligible benefits during the first full week of December.
If you’re entitled to the payment you don’t have to apply and it will be paid out automatically.
And as the £10 is a bonus, it won’t need to be repaid either, nor will it affect any other benefits you receive.
The tax-free payment is usually made after the qualifying week and before Christmas.
How do I get my Christmas bonus on Universal Credit?
The bonus isn’t available to those who receive Universal Credit only but someone on Universal Credit who also receives one of the qualifying benefits will receive it.
To claim your part of the Christmas cash, you’ll need to be claiming at least one of the following DWP’s benefits:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
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If you think you qualify but didn’t receive the payment automatically, contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Pension Centre.
If you are in line for the £10 boost there’s a code you should look out for in your bank statement – “DWP XB”.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
