Many individuals are set to receive their benefit payments earlier this week courtesy of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, and state pension beneficiaries may be affected based on their usual payment schedule.
If your payment is due on Thursday, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, you can expect the funds to arrive earlier than usual on Christmas Eve due to DWP payments not being processed on bank holidays. Consequently, if you receive your payment in advance, you will need to budget accordingly until the next payment date. For those expecting benefits on Thursday, January 1, the payment is likely to be made on Wednesday, December 31.
In the event of a delayed benefit payment, individuals are advised to reach out to the appropriate office online, by phone, or visit their local JobCentre upon reopening. It is important to note that helplines will be closed on bank holidays, requiring individuals to wait until the next working day to seek assistance.
Most benefits are administered by the DWP, with Tax Credits and Child Benefit managed by HMRC. Child Benefit payments, typically processed on Mondays and Tuesdays, should remain unaffected by the Christmas bank holidays.
For a comprehensive list of common benefit payments and their regular payment intervals, refer to the details below.