Full list of New Year payment date changes for people on State Pension or benefits

Linda Howard
·2-min read

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed changes to State Pensions and benefits due this week for people whose scheduled payments fall on certain days. The announcement also confirms that people in Scotland-only will receive payments earlier due to the January 2nd bank holiday.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Social Security Scotland have also confirmed similar changes to payments that fall on January 1st and 2nd. It’s also important for people due Child Benefit on Monday, December 30 to be aware this payment will be made on Tuesday, December 31 instead.

READ MORE: Child Benefit payment delay for parents and guardians due money this week

READ MORE: People on State Pension, PIP and other benefits can report Christmas Bonus payment missing this week

Affected payments include State Pensions, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Tax Credits, Adult Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment.

Offices, web chat services and telephone lines tend to close on the same days over bank holidays across Great Britain which results in payments being issued earlier to ensure claimants can speak to an advisor if they need to.

New Year's Day is a bank holiday in Scotland, England and Wales while January 2nd is recognised as a bank holiday in Scotland only.

DWP New Year payment dates

DWP has confirmed payments due on January 1 will be paid on Tuesday December 31 as will payments due on January 2 for people in Scotland only - full details on GOV.UK here.

DWP benefits and payments that may be affected:

  • Universal Credit

  • State Pension

  • Pension Credit

  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • Attendance Allowance

  • Carer’s Allowance

  • Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

DWP payment date changes:

  • Payment due on Wednesday, January 1 - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31

  • Payment due on Thursday, January 2 (Scotland only) - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31 except Universal Credit which will be paid as scheduled on January 2

HMRC New Year payment dates

HMRC has confirmed changes to Tax Credits. Payments due on January 1 will be issued on Tuesday, December 31. Full details on GOV.UK here.

Child Benefit payment date change

  • Payment due on Monday, December 30 - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31

Tax Credits payment date change

  • Payment due on Wednesday, January 1 - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31

Social Security Scotland payment date changes

Social Security Scotland has also published payment date changes over New Year week. Full details can be found here.

Social Security Scotland payment date changes:

  • Payment due on Wednesday, January 1 - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31

  • Payment due on Thursday, January 2 - paid into bank account on Tuesday, December 31

This will affect people in receipt of:

  • Adult Disability Payment

  • Carer Support Payment

  • Child Disability Payment

  • Pension Age Disability Payment

  • Scottish Child Payment

Best Start Foods payments will not be affected.

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