Thousands of individuals expecting benefits such as Universal Credit will have their payment schedules adjusted next month due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays. With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday and Boxing Day on a Friday, benefit payments due on those days are likely to be made on Wednesday, December 24 instead, as benefits are not processed on bank holidays. Similarly, for New Year’s Day, falling on a Thursday this year, payments scheduled for that day should be received on Wednesday, December 31.

While the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has not officially confirmed the exact payment timetable for Christmas and New Year, the aforementioned arrangement has been commonly followed in previous years.

It is essential for recipients to budget effectively if they receive payments earlier than usual, as the gap until the next payment will be longer. Different benefits have varying payment frequencies, for instance, Universal Credit is paid on a fixed monthly date, whereas Tax Credits are usually paid every four weeks or weekly. Child Benefit payments typically occur every four weeks on Mondays or Tuesdays.

If a benefit payment is not received as expected, it is advised to verify the date on the award notice and bank account details first. Should the payment still be missing, contacting the relevant helpline is recommended, bearing in mind that they may not be accessible on bank holidays.

The payment schedules for specific benefits are as follows:
– Universal Credit
– Child Benefit
– Tax Credits
– Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, and Employment and Support Allowance.