Christmas 2020 payment dates have been confirmed for Universal Credit and other benefits such as PIP, ESA and tax credits.
Social security payouts normally go straight into a claimant's bank account on the originally agreed date but this can change if it falls on a weekend or bank holiday.
Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year and because Boxing Day is then on Saturday, the bank holiday is carried forward to the following Monday, which creates a four-day festive break and could alter when you get your money.
Here are the essential dates you need to know:
When will Universal Credit be paid over Christmas and New Year?
Most payment dates for Universal Credit remain unchanged over the Christmas period, but there are a few changes if your usual pay date falls on a weekend or bank holiday.
Here are the changes:
- Payment due on December 24, December 29, December 30, December 31 and January 4: No change
- Payment due on December 25, December 26, December 27 or December 28: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 24
- Payment due on January 1, 2021: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 31
When will other PIP, ESA and other benefits be paid over Christmas and New Year?
There are also changes to other DWP benefits including PIP (Personal Independence Payment), ESA (Employment Support Allowance) and State Pension.
These are:
- Payment due on December 24, December 25, December 26, December 27 or December 28: Payment date changed to Wednesday, December 23
- Payment due on December 29, December 30, December 31: No change
- Payment due on January 1 or January 4, 2021: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 31
When will Child Benefit be paid over Christmas and New Year?
Most Read
Child Benefit is paid on a Monday or Tuesday and is never arranged to fall on a weekend. So these are the changes:
- Payment due on Monday, December 28: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 24
- Payment due on Tuesday, December 29 : No change
- Payment due on Monday, January 4 2021: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 31
- Payment due on Tuesday, January 5 2021: Payment date changed to Wednesday, January 6, 2021
When will Tax Credits be paid over Christmas and New Year?
- Payment due on December 25 or December 28: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 24
- Payment due on January 1 or January 4 2021: Payment date changed to Thursday, December 31, 2020
Universal Credit
When will the money go into my account?
Funds are usually available shortly after midnight on the day they are due, but it can depend on your bank.
Some banks deposit money into your account around 11.30pm so you can withdraw it before midnight, while others release your funds at midnight or just a few minutes after.
In some cases you may have to wait until the early hours of the morning, while others will not let you touch your money until at least 6am.
The typical paying-in times for most banks are:
- Clydesdale, Yorkshire - 11.30pm the night before to 12.30am
- Lloyds - midnight to 1am
- Bank of Scotland - midnight to 1.30am
- Metro Bank - midnight to 2am
- Barclays, Co-op - 1am to 2am
- Natwest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Nationwide - 2am to 3am
- Halifax - 3am to 4am
- HSBC, Santander - 6am to 9am
If your payment is received late or not at all, claimants are advised to contact their bank first before getting in touch with the DWP (for Universal Credit, PIP and ESA) or HMRC (for Child Benefit and Tax Credit).