DWP benefit payment dates for December including PIP, Universal Credit and state pension

The changes to payment dates are down to the bank holidays over the Christmas period, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC do not pay benefits or state pensions on bank holidays

Benefit and state pension payments will change for some in December - and some could get their money earlier than normal.

The changes to payment dates are down to the bank holidays over the Christmas period, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC do not pay benefits or state pensions on bank holidays. This year, Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday, and Boxing Day is on a Thursday.

This means if you are supposed to get your benefits or state pension on these dates, then you will receive them earlier. For benefit claimants, the DWP and HMRC will likely pay you on the final working day before Christmas which this year will be Tuesday, December 24 - so on Christmas Eve.

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This means some claimants may receive their December benefit payment one or two days earlier than expected. Some Tax Credit payments will be affected on December 27. However, this is only in Northern Ireland.

This isn't the only date change happening this month as there are more bank holidays around the New Year too. New Year's Day on January 1 - which falls on a Wednesday this year - is also classed as a bank holiday. If you are due for a benefit payment on January 1, then you will receive this payment a day earlier on December 31.

Benefits which could be impacted by December's bank holidays include:

• Attendance allowance
• Carer's allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Income support
• Jobseekers allowance
• Pension credit
• Personal independence payments (PIP)
• State pension
• Universal Credit
• Child benefit (paid by HMRC)
• Tax credits (paid by HMRC)

If you're due to be paid on a different day, you won't need to do anything - the money will be paid into your account as normal. The amount you get will also remain the same, and it will also be paid into the same account in which you normally receive your benefit payment.

It's also very important to note that although receiving your benefits earlier may sound like a good thing, it does mean that you need to make your money last longer, even if it is just by one day.

If your benefit or state pension payment is set to be paid on any other day of the month will not be affected and will be paid as usual. For example, if your payment is due on Monday, December 23, then your benefit will still be paid on that day.

When are benefits paid?

• 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 (PIP) - Usually every four weeks
• State Pension - Usually every four weeks
• Tax credits - Every four weeks or weekly
• Universal Credit - Every month