As everyone gears up to celebrate the New Year, 12 benefits including Universal Credit will be paid early this week. With New Year's Day falling on a Monday, that means anyone due a benefit payment on that date will get paid the previous working day.
Benefits Affected by New Year Bank Holidays
Some benefits may also be affected if they're due on January 3. On the face of it, getting the money early may seem great, but you will still need to make your money last longer as you'll have a bigger gap before you next get the money.
Important Changes to Benefit Payments
Here's all the important changes the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC benefit changes that are happening over the next few weeks.
If you are due a benefit payment on January 1, then you should get the money in your bank account on December 29. Tax Credit claimants who would normally get paid on January 2 will also get paid on December 29.
Anyone living in England or Northern Ireland who would be due a Tax Credit payment on January 3 should get the money on January 2.
Anyone due to be paid on a different date won't need to do anything, the money will go into your bank account as usual.
The amount you get will also be the same as usual and it will be paid into the same account you normally receive your payments.
Types of Benefit and Payment Frequency
How frequently you get your benefits paid depends on what type of support you are claiming. Universal Credit is paid on the same day each month, while Tax Credits are usually paid every four weeks or weekly. Child Benefit is in most cases paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
Full List of Benefits Being Paid Early
Here is the full list of benefits that will be paid early this week:
- Attendance Allowance – Usually every four weeks
- Carer's Allowance – Weekly in advance or every four weeks
- Child Benefit – Usually every four weeks, or weekly if you're a single parent or you or your partner get 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 You Don't Receive Your Payment
If the money you are expecting doesn't arrive, or you think it is for the wrong amount, you should contact the relevant helpline as soon as possible. However, remember that Jobcentres and phone lines will be closed on all three bank holidays, so you'll need to call after these days.
Contact Information
Here are the contact numbers for different benefits:
- Universal Credit:
- Call for free: 0800 328 9344
- Welsh speaking: 0800 012 1888
- Textphone: 0800 328 1344
- Child Benefit:
- Call for free: 0300 200 3100
- Outside UK: +44 161 210 3086
- Tax Credits:
- Call for free: 0345 300 3900
- From outside the UK: +44 2890 538 192
- Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance:
- Call for free: 0800 169 0310
- Textphone: 0800 169 0314
- Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
If you are due a benefit payment on January 1, then you should get the money in your bank account on December 29.
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