SOME benefits are paid on different dates than usual over the festive season, including Universal Credit.
Because Christmas is a bank holiday, payment dates can arrive earlier than expected.
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This year Christmas Day falls on a Saturday followed by Boxing Day on a Sunday and are bank holidays.
“Substitute” bank holiday follow on the next working days afterwards – the Monday and Tuesday- because the bank holidays don’t count on a weekend.
That means there are two bank holidays over Christmas 2021, and they are on December Monday 27 and Tuesday 28.
If you usually get your Universal Credit paid on these dates than you can expect a change.
When will my Universal Credit be paid over Christmas?
Universal Credit is paid once a month into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If your benefit payment date falls on a bank holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.
That means you will get your Universal Credit payment earlier than usual, on Friday December 24 – Christmas Eve – which is a normal working day.
You don’t need to do anything if your usual date for getting Universal Credit falls on a bank holiday.
The payment should be made earlier automatically.
If your payment date falls on a normal day that’s not a bank holiday this festive season, then you’ll get your payment as usual.
What other benefit payment dates will change over Christmas?
A number of other benefit payments are likely to follow the same changes too.
State Pension payments are one of them and those claiming the following support:
If you normally get any of these benefits and are expecting a payment on Monday, December 27 or Tuesday, December 28, you could get it earlier on Friday, December 24 instead.
Anyone getting tax credits or child benefit will also get their payments early on December 24.
Will the amount of Universal Cresit I’m paid change?
The amount of Universal Credit you get won’t change if it’s paid on a different date this Christmas.
Neither will any of the other benefits, unless you’ve had a change of circumstances that affects how much you get at the same time.
Remember too that being paid earlier than normal means that you’ll need to make it stretch for extra days as you’ll have longer to wait until next month’s payment.
Make sure you take this into account when working out your household budget.
What if my Universal Credit payment is delayed this Bank Holiday?
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double-check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank before calling DWP.
If something’s not right, you can also submit a complaint to the DWP.
What other bank holidays could affect my Universal Credit payments?
Christmas isn’t the only bank holiday coming up over the festive season.
There are also bank holidays over the new year:
- January 3, 2022
- January 4, 2022 (Scotland only)
In most cases, the DWP says if your payment is due on a bank holiday you’ll be paid on the working day before.
As new years day falls on Saturday this year, there is a bank holiday on Monday, January 3, 2022.
As payment is usually made early, that means payment can be expected on Friday, December 31, 2021
But there are differences and for Scotland and Northern Ireland bank holidays, these may be paid after.
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