When will Christmas benefits be paid? Key dates revealed by DWP

Here's the dates you need to know for universal credit and other benefits payments ahead of the festive period.

Jasmine Andersson
Updated ·2 min read
File photo dated 11/01/18 of signage for the Department for Work & Pensions in Westminster, London. Families with children have seen their incomes fall by an average of £2,200 per year since 2010 thanks to changes to taxes and benefits, a leading think tank has found. In a report published on Saturday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said families with children had been hit hardest by benefit cuts over the past 14 years. Issue date: Saturday June 8, 2024.
The Department for Work and Pensions have changed their payment dates over Christmas. (PA/Alamy)

With Christmas fast approaching, many are looking to manage their finances ahead of the festive period.

For those claiming benefits, there are still a few scheduled payments before the end of the year - with some dates being bumped up to help with budgeting.

Here’s what you need to know about any remaining benefits payment dates before Christmas.

If you are in receipt of benefits like universal credit, it’s worth noting that some payment dates will be made earlier in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year.

This is to ensure there are no payment delays due to the number of bank holidays over the festive period.

The people who will be affected are those who are due to receive their benefit payments on 25 and 26 December, as well as 1 January.

For example:

  • If your payment is due 25, 26 or 27 December, you will be paid your other benefits on 22 December, but your universal credit payment date will remain the same.

  • However, if your payment is due on 1 January, your universal credit will be paid on 29 December, alongside your other benefits.

  • Your benefit dates will not change if you’re due to be paid 2 January 2025 onwards.

Want to check when you're expected to be paid? Use our tool to determine the date.

To help with the additional cost of Christmas, some benefits recipients will be eligible for the Christmas bonus.

This one-off sum of £10 paid will be paid into accounts in the first full week of December.

This is not paid, however, if you are in receipt of universal credit.

You will get paid the Christmas bonus automatically by the government, and it is tax-free.

To be eligible, you will be in receipt of one of these benefits in the qualifying week of the payment:

Find out what benefits you are entitled to claim through the Turn2Us benefits calculator, which can be found here.

The charity says that millions of people are missing out on thousands of pounds because they don’t know what they are entitled to.

For those who have a wait period until their benefits kick in, gov.uk states that if you need money while you wait for your first payment, you can apply for an advance.

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