TL:DR
- Many families face financial stress this Christmas due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
- Over 14 million adults in the UK will struggle to afford holiday expenses, leading to increased borrowing.
- Payment dates for benefits have been adjusted due to bank holidays.
- Key benefits like Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, and Carer’s Allowance will be paid on December 23 if due on Christmas Eve, Day, or Boxing Day.
- New Year’s Day payments will also be made on December 31.
Full list of DWP Christmas 2025 payment dates | News UK
The festive period can be an expensive affair as people want to treat their loved ones and visit family and friends.
Many have been budgeting to try to afford all the additional expenses this Christmas on top of their daily necessities. Some families are borrowing money from loan sharks to survive Christmas.
Holidays can be particularly stressful for those relying on state benefits or a pension, especially when paired with the lingering cost of living crisis to add to the pressure.
More than one in four adults in the UK – around 14 million people – will struggle to afford Christmas this year, the debt charity Step Change warned.
This would lead to higher borrowing and more time taken to clear off credit card debt, it added.
But knowing when payments will be made might ease anxiety around money a little bit.
Here is a roundup of the upcoming Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC payment dates.
When are benefits paid over Christmas?
With Christmas and New Year’s Eve falling in the middle of the week this year, many payments are likely to be made on the previous working day, so payments normally due on December 25 will hit bank accounts on December 24.
There are also differences between England and Scotland payment dates.
Universal Credit Christmas payments
Universal Credit is paid monthly and the payment dates this year are a bit different to many other benefits.
Payments due on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day should be done on Christmas Eve.
If the payment is due on New Year’s Day, it should be paid the previous day on New Year’s Eve, December 31, which is a Wednesday.
Recipients in Scotland with a payment date on January 2 can expect it to be made on that day.
Attendance allowance
The allowance, which is paid to those with a long-term physical or mental condition or disability, is usually paid monthly.
When the payment is due on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day , recipients can expect the money on December 23.
Carer’s allowance
Next up is the carer’s allowance, which is usually paid weekly in advance or every four weeks.
For payments due Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, money should appear in the bank account on Tuesday, December 23. Allowance due on New Year’s Day should be paid on New Year’s Eve, December 31.
In Scotland, payments due January 2 should be made on December 31.
Child benefit
Payments – usually done every four weeks or weekly by the HMRC depending on the situation – are generally made on a Monday or Tuesday, which fall on a regular weekday this year.
For anyone with a payment due on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, they should receive the money on Wednesday.
Disability living allowance
Similar to the other benefits, the disability living allowance payment date is Tuesday, December 23 if the due date is either Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, payments due on New Year’s Day (England) and January 2 (Scotland) will be made the day before on New Year’s Eve.
Employment and support allowance
This allowance is generally paid every two weeks.
Payments will be made on Tuesday, December 23, if the due date is either Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
If the payment date is New Year’s Day (England) or January 2 (Scotland), it should be made on New Year’s Eve, December 31.
What about pension payment dates over Christmas?
State pension and pension credit payments are typically made every four weeks.
For state pension, the exact date depends on your National Insurance number.
The NI numbers and payment dates are:
- 00 to 19: Monday
- 20 to 39: Tuesday
- 40 to 59: Wednesday
- 60 to 79: Thursday
- 80 to 99: Friday
When a payment due date falls on a bank holiday like Christmas Day on a Wednesday this year, payments will be made on the previous working day.
Income support
Income support is paid to individuals on low or no income who receive financial help but are not unemployed.
For payments due Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, money should appear on the bank account on Tuesday, December 23.
If the due date is New Year’s Day, which is a bank holiday, or January 2 (Scotland), the payment should be made on New Year’s Eve, December 31, which is a Wednesday.
Jobseeker’s allowance
Payments are usually made every two weeks, and over the festive period it will be made on Tuesday, December 23, if the payment is due either Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
If the payment date is New Year’s Day or January 2 (Scotland), it should be made on New Year’s Eve.
Maternity allowance
Recipients are paid every two or four weeks.
Similar to other benefits, if the payment date is Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, payments are made on Tuesday, December 23, so that people don’t have to wait until after the bank holiday.
New Year’s Day payments and January 2 payments (Scotland) will be made on New Year’s Eve, December 31.
Personal independence payment (PIP)
The PIP is typically paid every four weeks.
For payments due Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, money should appear in the bank account on Tuesday, December 23.
If the due date is New Year’s Day, which is a bank holiday, or January 2 (Scotland), the payment should be made on New Year’s Eve on Wednesday.