UNIVERSAL Credit claimants could receive their payments on different days over the Christmas period.
These are the dates you need to put in your diary to make sure you know when your money is due to arrive.
1
Universal Credit is paid once a month into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Your payment might include a housing allowance, which you’ll need to pass on to your landlord.
Once you’ve received your first payment, you’ll be paid on the same date of each month.
If your payment date falls on a weekend, you’ll get your Universal Credit allowance on the previous working day.
For example, if you’re usually paid on the 16th of each month, you would be paid on October 15 this month as October 16 is a Saturday.
It’s slightly different over the Christmas period due to bank holidays.
Claimants who would expect to be paid on December 25, 26, 27 or 28 should receive their payment on Christmas Eve this year.
That’s because Christmas Day and Boxing Day are on a weekend this year, making December 27 and 28 bank holidays.
If you would usually be paid on January 1, 2 or 3, you should get your Universal Credit payment on December 31 this year.
If your payment is delayed, you should contact the Department for Work and Pensions immediately. You can find the right contact details on the government website.
Most claimants will get a reduced amount of Universal Credit this Christmas compared to last year.
The £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit ended this month – affecting 5.5million UK households.
Families have already told how the payment reduction, coupled with the rising cost of living, will force them to choose between “heating or eating”.
One family said they won’t have presents wrapped under the tree this Christmas due to the cut.
A single mum said she may take out credit cards to help her get by following the £20 cut to Universal Credit cut – leaving her facing debt.
Ending Universal Credit uplift will help families escape ‘welfare trap’ says Raab as he denies ‘heating or eating’ fears
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