State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit and other benefit pay day changes over Christmas and New Year
Full list of DWP, HMRC and Social Security Scotland payment date changes during the festive fortnight.
There are just six weeks to go until Christmas and already Social Security Scotland and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have published online guidance advising people of changes to benefit payment dates.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has yet to do so and typically confirms changes to State Pension and benefits nearer the time, however, these usually follow the same payment pattern set by the other government agencies.
This is because offices, web services and telephone lines tend to close on the same days over the festive fortnight and DWP always ensures State Pension or benefits payments are made on a day when offices are open so that claimants can speak to an advisor.
READ MORE: DWP one-off payment for people on State Pension, PIP and other benefits due next monthREAD MORE: DWP payments set to end for thousands of people on DLA next month
There will be no payment date changes for people in receipt of Child Benefit this year as Christmas Day falls on a Thursday and Boxing Day on a Friday – the HMRC payment is only made on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The same pattern follows for the following week and New Year, however, parents and guardians in Scotland due a Child Benefit payment on Monday, January 5 will receive it a day later on Tuesday, January 6.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are both classed as Bank Holidays across Scotland, England and Wales.
New Year’s Day is also classed as a bank holiday across Great Britain, but only Scotland observes January 2 as a Bank Holiday.
Social Security Scotland payment date changes
Social Security Scotland has published payment date changes over the festive period. Full details can be found here.
Social Security Scotland payment date changes.
Christmas
- Payment due on Thursday December 25 – paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 23
- Payment due on Friday December 26 – paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 23
New Year
- Payment due on Thursday January 1 – paid into bank account on Wednesday, December 31
- Payment due on Friday January 2 – paid into bank account on Wednesday, December 31
This will affect people in receipt of:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Scottish Child Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance
Best Start Foods payments will not be affected.
HMRC payment date changes
HMRC has confirmed there will be no changes to Child Benefit Payment dates over Christmas and New Year. You can see the full list of payment date changes for next year on GOV.UK.
The only change will affect parents and guardians in Scotland:
- Payment due on Monday January 5 – paid into bank account on Tuesday January 6
DWP payment date changes (to be confirmed)
While the DWP has not announced any changes yet, it is expected to follow the same payment pattern listed above. Once this has been confirmed, we will update this article.
DWP benefits and payments that may be affected:
- Universal Credit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Possible DWP payment date changes (to be confirmed):
Christmas
- Payment due on Thursday December 25 – paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 23
- Payment due on Friday December 26 – paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 23
New Year
- Payment due on Thursday January 1 – paid into bank account on Wednesday, December 31
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