Universal Credit, PIP and other benefit payment dates confirmed

CHRISTMAS can prove to be a real pain for some benefit claimants, as payment dates are shifted around the holiday.

There’s more bank holidays to take into account this year which mess up the regular pattern, but if you get clued up on the exact dates money will enter your account, you can budget properly for the festive time.

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We can reveal exactly which dates you’ll receive each benefit payment after the changes.

It’s all because Christmas Day is on a Saturday, and Boxing Day is on a Sunday this year.

They’d normally be bank holidays but “substitute” bank holidays follow on the next working days afterwards instead – so this year it’s the Monday and Tuesday after the weekend.

You also need to remember that January 3 is an unconventional bank holiday too, (it’s making up for New Year’s Day being on a Saturday) and that could mess up some payments as well.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll get your money early though.

There’s nothing you need to do and your payments will come through automatically as normal, it just might mean you’ll get a boost earlier than expected, and have to wait longer for the next one as a result.

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Universal Credit

Universal Credit is usually paid once a month into your bank, building society or credit union account – that will usually be on the same day each time too.

But Christmas is interrupting that this year.

When a bank holiday falls on the usual payment date, you’ll usually get paid the Friday before.

That means you’ll see the cash on December 24 this year.

If you get paid on the 1st of every month, you’ll be paid on December 31 too.

• Due date December 24 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 25 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 26 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 27 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 28 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 29 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 30 – Payment date December 30
• Due date December 31 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 1 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 2 – Payment due December 31
• Due date January 3 – Payment date December 31

PIP

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is paid every four weeks on the same day of the week.

Like with Universal Credit, the payments are never made on a weekend or bank holiday.

If your payment is due on December 25 or December 28 this year, you can expect to be paid on December 23.

For payments due on January 1, claimants can expect to get paid on December 31.

• Due date December 24 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 25 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 26 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 27 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 28 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 29 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 30 – Payment date December 30
• Due date December 31 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 1 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 2 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 3 – Payment date December 31

Child benefit

Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you or your partner claims certain benefits like Income Support.

Payments are made every Monday or Tuesday.

If you were due to get paid on December 27 or 28 this winter, you’ll get paid on December 21 instead.

But it would mean a long wait until the next installment, especially for those who were expecting January 3 payments, as the Monday or Tuesday beforehand are the bank holidays so you won’t be being paid then.

• Due date December 27 – Payment date December 21
• Due date December 28 – Payment date December 21
• Due date January 3 – Payment date December 21

Tax credits

Child tax credits or working tax credits top up your household income if you’re not earning enough to make ends meet.

You can choose whether you want to get paid weekly or every four weeks when you first apply.

Again, if your payment falls on a weekend or on a bank holiday, you’ll likely be paid early.

• Due date December 24 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 25 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 26 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 27 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 28 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 29 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 30 – Payment date December 30
• Due date December 31 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 1 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 2 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 3 – Payment date December 31

Other benefits

Benefits such as employment support allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), carer’s allowance, pension credit, attendance allowance and the state pension may also be affected by the Christmas bank holidays.

The day that you’re paid depends on when you applied for the benefit. If your date falls on a bank holiday or weekend it will be moved.

• Due date December 24 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 25 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 26 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 27 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 28 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 29 – Payment date December 24
• Due date December 30 – Payment date December 30
• Due date December 31 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 1 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 2 – Payment date December 31
• Due date January 3 – Payment date December 31

You can also check out the Gov.uk website or ring the relevant helpline to find out if any of your payments will be affected.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk