Social Security Scotland and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have confirmed changes to benefit payment dates over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, while the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has yet to announce its arrangements.
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25 this year, with the substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day observed on Monday, December 28. New Year's Day falls on Friday, January 1, 2027, and Scotland observes an additional bank holiday on Monday, January 4.
Social Security Scotland confirmed dates
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that payments due over the festive bank holidays will be made earlier than usual. The changes affect Adult Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment, Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Scottish Child Payment and Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance. Best Start Foods payments will not be affected.
Payments due on Thursday, December 24, Friday, December 25 and Monday, December 28 will all be paid on Wednesday, December 23. Payments due on Friday, January 1 and Monday, January 4 will be paid on Thursday, December 31.
HMRC Child Benefit changes
HMRC has confirmed changes to Child Benefit payment dates. Payments due on Monday, December 28 will be paid on Thursday, December 24. Payments due on Tuesday, December 29 will be paid on Wednesday, December 30 in Northern Ireland only.
Expected DWP arrangements
The DWP has not yet announced its Christmas and New Year payment arrangements for State Pension and other benefits. Payments are expected to follow the usual bank holiday pattern, with money issued on the previous working day when the normal payment date falls on a bank holiday.
The changes could affect people receiving State Pension, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
Expected DWP dates are payments due on Friday, December 25 and Monday, December 28 paid on Thursday, December 24, and payments due on Friday, January 1 and Monday, January 4 paid on Thursday, December 31, with the January 4 change applying in Scotland only.
The DWP is expected to publish its official payment arrangements nearer the festive period. People whose payments are brought forward should be aware that the money will need to last until their next scheduled payment date.
