This is when Universal Credit and benefits payments will be made over Christmas and New Year

The Department for Work and Pensions bosses have announced when people due to receive benefits payments over the festive period will receive their money.

To ensure recipients don’t go short over Christmas, and despite a concentration of Bank Holidays, all payments will be paid either on or earlier than their due date.

Here’s what you need to know:

Universal Credit

- If you are due to be paid on Christmas (December 25), you will be paid on Friday, December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on Boxing Day (December 26), you will be paid on Friday, December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on January 1, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

- If you are due to be paid on January 2, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

- If you are due to be paid on January 3, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

Tax credit

- If you are due to be paid on December 27, you will be paid on December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on December 28, you will be paid on December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on December 29, you will be paid on December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on January 3, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

- If you are due to be paid on January 4, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

Child Benefit

- If you are due to be paid on December 27, you will be paid on December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on December 28, you will be paid on December 24.

- If you are due to be paid on January 3, 2022, you will be paid on December 31.

Job Centre offices and phone lines are open as usual on Christmas Eve and will then be closed from Christmas Day up to and including Tuesday December 28. On Wednesday December 29, offices will remain closed but phone lines will be open for missing or urgent payments only.

Offices and phone lines are open as usual on New Year’s Eve and will then be closed up to and including Monday January 3.

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