Overview
- Payments due on Christmas Day and Boxing Day have been brought forward to Wednesday, December 24, with many recipients already seeing funds land today.
- Awards scheduled for New Year’s Day are expected to be paid on Wednesday, December 31, though bank processing times may affect when money becomes available.
- A wide range of payments are affected, including State Pension, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, ESA, JSA, Income Support and Tax Credits.
- HMRC has issued separate Child Benefit guidance, noting usual Monday/Tuesday cycles and location‑specific changes such as Northern Ireland shifts on December 29–30 and Scotland on January 5, with local bank closures potentially delaying deposits.
- DWP and HMRC urge people to check statements and contact helplines if a payment is missing, while charities warn early deposits can stretch budgets because the gap until the next payment is longer.