Millions of people across the UK who receive benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to see a change to their payment schedule next week. The shift is due to the upcoming Christmas and New Year bank holidays, which affect processing dates.
Revised Payment Dates for Christmas and New Year
The DWP has confirmed its standard policy for payments due on bank holidays. If your payment is scheduled for Thursday, December 25, or Friday, December 26, you will likely receive your money on Wednesday, December 24 instead. This early payment ensures claimants have access to their funds ahead of the festive closure.
Similarly, for the New Year period, any benefit payment due on Thursday, January 1, is expected to be paid on the preceding working day, Wednesday, December 30. This change impacts a wide range of DWP-administered support, potentially affecting up to 24 million claimants.
Which Benefits Are Affected?
The early payment policy applies to a comprehensive list of state support. Claimants of the following benefits should check their expected payment dates:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Tax Credits (administered by HMRC but affected by the same holiday schedule)
- Universal Credit
The DWP has stressed that receiving a payment earlier than the usual date will not reduce the total amount you are entitled to. Your award remains unchanged.
What to Do If Your Payment Is Late
If your benefit does not arrive on the expected revised date, the DWP advises a clear course of action. First, you should double-check the payment date on your official award notice and verify your bank account. If the date is correct and the funds are still not present, you should then contact the relevant benefits helpline.
Be aware that DWP offices and phone lines will operate on reduced hours over the festive period. This means urgent enquiries may take longer to resolve, so it is advisable to act promptly if you identify an issue.
For the most accurate and personalised information, claimants are encouraged to log into their online benefit account or journal, where official payment dates for the festive period should be clearly listed.
