The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the changed dates for when anyone receiving benefits and state pensions can expect to be paid
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the confirmed payment schedule for benefits and state pensions throughout the Christmas period. With Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day all landing during the week, recipients need to brace themselves for altered payment timings.
Authorities have clarified that whilst payments typically land straight into bank accounts, any due date coinciding with a bank holiday will be shifted to the final working day beforehand. According to the DWP: “Some payments will be made earlier if they’re due between 24 December 2025 and 2 January 2026.
“Tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.”
These adjustments affect anyone whose usual payment date falls on the 24th, 25th, 26th or 1st of the month – detailed in the table below:
When your payment is due
When Universal Credit will be paid
When other benefits will be paid (not Universal Credit)
Wednesday 24 December
Wednesday 24 December
Tuesday 23 December
Thursday 25 December
Wednesday 24 December
Tuesday 23 December
Friday 26 December
Wednesday 24 December
Tuesday 23 December
Thursday 1 January
Wednesday 31 December
Wednesday 31 December
Support payments including State Pension, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance arrive at set intervals:
- Attendance Allowance: Usually every 4 weeks
- Carer’s Allowance: Weekly in advance or every 4 weeks
- Child Benefit: Usually every 4 weeks – or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits.
- Disability Living Allowance: Usually every 4 weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance: Usually every 2 weeks
- Income Support: Usually every 2 weeks
- Jobseeker’s Allowance: Usually every 2 weeks
- Maternity Allowance: Every 2 or 4 weeks
- Pension Credit: Usually every 4 weeks
- Personal Independence Payment: Usually every 4 weeks
- State Pension: Usually every 4 weeks
- Universal Credit: Every month
In a related development, it has been revealed that workers in jobcentres, Universal Credit service centres and child maintenance offices are set to vote on potential strike action due to a pay dispute.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will cast their votes in January, following the rejection of a pay offer. The union highlighted the dire circumstances of many of its members within the DWP, some of whom rely on in-work benefits or food banks.
