THOUSANDS on Universal Credit and benefits will face payment date changes before the Christmas Bank Holiday period.
Those receiving Universal Credit, pension credit and more will receive their payment on a different day than usual.
AlamyMillions of people receiving child benefit and Universal Credit will see their payment dates change next week due to the Christmas Bank Holiday period.[/caption]
The Government has confirmed that benefit payments due to land in accounts on Monday, December 26 and 27 will be made early.
Benefits will be paid on Friday, December 23 – the last working day before the bank holiday.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says it has put arrangements in place to make sure all benefits due are paid on this date.
When will I get my payment?
If your benefit is due to be paid on Boxing Day (Monday, December 26), you’ll be paid on Friday, December 23.
That’s because Boxing Day counts as a bank holiday, and the 27th is a “substituted” bank holiday day for Christmas Day and payments aren’t made on these days.
You don’t need to do anything if your usual date for getting Universal Credit falls on a bank holiday.
Does this only affect those on Universal Credit?
This affects all individuals claiming several notable benefits including Universal Credit.
Those on the following are set to receive their benefit allowance this week:
Attendance AllowanceCarer’s AllowanceDisability Living AllowanceEmployment and Support AllowanceIncome SupportIndustrial Injuries Disablement BenefitJobseeker’s AllowancePension CreditPersonal Independence PaymentState PensionUniversal CreditChild Benefit/Guardian’s AllowanceWorking Tax CreditsChild Tax Credits
Will my payment amount change?
The only thing that changes is when you get paid.
Of course, the amount you get depends on which benefits you’re currently claiming.
If you think you’re eligible for benefits and missing out, then we’ve explained how to check which benefits you could claim.
How will it affect me?
Getting paid early will mean you need to plan out your month to make sure you don’t overspend.
Make sure to factor this into your budget for September.
We’ve some top tips to make sure you save money throughout the month including meal prepping and finding hidden food discounts – you can read more about those in our guides.