The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially confirmed a schedule of payment date changes for State Pension and a range of benefits over the New Year period. The alterations affect claimants whose regular payment dates fall on the upcoming bank holidays.
Which Payments Are Affected?
The changes apply to a wide array of support delivered by the DWP, Social Security Scotland, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The move is standard practice when scheduled payment dates coincide with days when government offices and contact centres are closed, ensuring recipients have access to support if needed.
The DWP benefits and payments impacted include:
- Universal Credit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Key Changes to DWP Payment Dates
For those expecting a payment on Thursday, 1 January (New Year's Day, a bank holiday across Great Britain), the money will instead be paid on Wednesday, 31 December.
In Scotland, where Friday, 2 January is also a bank holiday, any payment due on that date will be brought forward to Wednesday, 31 December as well.
This means many recipients across the UK will see their funds arrive a few days earlier than usual, providing a helpful financial boost ahead of the holiday.
HMRC Child Benefit Adjustments
HMRC has also confirmed adjustments, but these are more limited. There are no changes to Child Benefit payment dates for families in England or Wales this week, as New Year's Day falls on a Thursday and HMRC payments are only issued on Mondays and Tuesdays.
However, for parents and guardians in Scotland, a specific change is in place. A Child Benefit payment due on Monday, 5 January will be paid a day later, on Tuesday, 6 January. This is because Monday the 5th is designated as a bank holiday in Scotland following the New Year period.
Why Do These Changes Happen?
The annual adjustment of payment dates around public holidays is a standard administrative procedure. Government departments, including the DWP and HMRC, close their offices, web services, and telephone lines on bank holidays.
By processing payments on the last working day before the break, they ensure that funds reach people's accounts on time. Crucially, it also means that claimants can still contact advisors if they encounter any issues with their payment, as support services will be open.
The full details of all changes have been published by the DWP on the official GOV.UK website for anyone who wishes to check the information directly.
