Some claimants will see changes to their usual benefit payments
Some DWP benefit claimants will have their payments impacted during the festive period(Image: Getty Images )
Some Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claimants will see their benefit payments impacted over the festive period due to upcoming bank holidays. Many people will receive their payments earlier than usual.
When a benefit payment is scheduled to fall on a bank holiday, it is instead issued on the previous working day. This means that payments due on December 25 and 26 will be made on Christmas Eve, while payments scheduled for New Year’s Day will be paid on December 31.
Because payments will arrive early, recipients may need to budget carefully to ensure the money lasts until their next regular payment date. Claimants can check their expected payment dates on the official government website.
DWP benefit claimants will face changes to payment dates due to bank holidays(Image: PA)
Claimants in Northern Ireland will also experience changes in payment dates. Those expecting Tax Credit payments on December 27 will receive them on December 24 instead, and those due Child Benefit on December 31 will receive the payment on December 30 instead.
What benefits will be impacted by the date changes?
- State pension
- Universal Credit
- Pension credit
- Personal independence payment
- Child benefit
- Disability living allowance
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employment support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
- Tax Credits
DWP is set to announce the new payment rates for State Pensions and benefits for the 2026/27 financial year just prior to the Autumn Budget on November 26.
The DWP recently revealed that plans to reform Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been postponed until a ‘comprehensive review’ into the current assessment process concludes next year.
However, the DWP also confirmed that the disability benefit will continue to increase annually in line with the September inflation rate.
This means payments for over 3.8 million PIP claimants are set to rise by 3.8 per cent.
Such an increase would see those receiving the highest awards of the daily living and mobility components increase from £187.45 per week to £194.55.
The new financial year starts on Monday, April 6, 2026, and this is when all benefits and the State Pension will increase
