The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a temporary shake-up to benefit payment schedules across the UK for December 2025. This annual change is due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, which affect when payments can be processed.
Revised Payment Dates for the Festive Period
With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday and Boxing Day on a Friday, millions of claimants will receive their money earlier than usual. If your payment is due on Thursday 25th or Friday 26th December, you should expect to receive it on Wednesday 24th December instead.
This is because the DWP, like most banks, does not process benefit payments on bank holidays. The same logic applies to New Year's Day, which falls on a Thursday. Anyone expecting a payment on Thursday 1st January 2026 will likely be paid on Wednesday 31st December 2025.
While the DWP has not yet released its official festive timetable, this pattern has been consistently followed in previous years.
Which Benefits Are Affected?
The payment date changes will impact a wide range of support payments. The frequency of your payments depends on the specific benefit you claim. Here is the full list of benefits and their typical payment schedules:
- Attendance Allowance - Usually every four weeks
- Carer’s Allowance - Weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Child Benefit - Usually every four weeks, or weekly for single parents or those on certain benefits
- Disability Living Allowance - Usually every four weeks
- Employment and Support Allowance - Usually every two weeks
- Income Support - Usually every two weeks
- Jobseeker’s Allowance - Usually every two weeks
- Pension Credit - Usually every four weeks
- Personal Independence Payment - Usually every four weeks
- State Pension - Usually every four weeks
- Tax credits - Every four weeks or weekly
- Universal Credit - Every month
What to Do If Your Payment is Late
If your benefit does not arrive on the expected revised date, the DWP advises claimants to take two simple steps. First, double-check the payment date on your official award notice and then check your bank account again.
If the date is correct and the funds are still missing, you should contact the relevant benefits helpline directly. Be aware that these phone lines are also highly unlikely to be operating on the bank holidays themselves, so plan your call for the next working day.
