MILLIONS of households on benefits can expect payments today.
Bank holidays can change when the cash hits your bank account.
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The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed early payments will be made for 12 benefits.
That includes Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support.
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year followed by Boxing Day on Monday and then a bank holiday on the 27th.
So anyone who is usually paid on the 25th, 26th or 27th of the month will be paid earlier.
That’s because Boxing Day is a bank holiday anyway, and the 27th is a “substituted” bank holiday day for Christmas Day.
Any payments which are usually made on these dates will be made today, December 23.
Payment dates are set to change over the New Year period too.
Here we explain the changes and when you can expect your benefit payment.
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What benefits are paid early this week because of Christmas?
The DWP has shared the full list of benefits that will be paid early this month.
- 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
How do I know if I get my benefits paid early?
Not everyone will get their benefit payments early – it depends on the date you usually get paid.
If you usually get paid on the 24th or 25th of each month you should receive your payment today, December 23, as those dates fall on the weekend this year.
If you normally get paid benefits on the following dates, you’ll get the money today.
- Saturday December 24
- Sunday December 25
- Monday December 26
- Tuesday December 27
You’ll also get paid on December 23 if you would normally get your payment on Wednesday, December 28 – except for Universal Credit, which will still be paid on the normal day.
Tax credits payments usually made on the 29th of each month will be paid a day early in England and Scotland.
If you usually get paid on the 2nd, you’ll receive your payment on December 30, 2022, as January 2, 2023 is a bank holiday.
Universal Credit and benefits payments due on January 3 will receive them on time unless you live in Scotland where you’ll get them on December 30.
Those who receive Tax Credit on the 3rd of each month will receive their January payment on December 30.
Tax Credit claimants in England and Northern Ireland who are due payments on January 4 will get them a day early.
Will my benefit payment amount change?
The amount you get paid shouldn’t change.
It will be the same as previous months, unless you’ve had a change of circumstances that affects how much you get at the same time.
You don’t need to do anything if your usual date for getting the state pension falls on a bank holiday.
Don’t forget that if you get paid early then you’ll have to make the money you get go further as you’ll have extra days to wait until your next payment date.
Make sure you factor this into your budget.
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank.
Failing that, you should contact the DWP.
You can also submit a complaint to the DWP over any unpaid benefits.
In other news, households can get up to £400 in free cash directly into their accounts by switching banks this winter.
Plus, we reveal the 800 postcodes in line for £50 in cold weather payments following the recent cold snap.
