personal finance

Universal Credit pay dates for Christmas & New Year 2019: Will Bank Holidays affect YOURS?


Universal Credit, Tax Credit and other benefit payment dates for the Christmas and New Year period for 2019 have been announced. Claimants could be affected by three Bank Holiday dates this festive season. Due to the way the system works, money is paid in to claimants accounts’ once a month on the same date. However, if their payment date falls on a Bank Holiday, this is date is temporarily changed, and claimants are paid early to ensure they are not left waiting for money.

Universal Credit

If the payment date is the 25th or 26th of December (Christmas and Boxing Day) then benefits should be paid on Tuesday December 24.

If the payment date is the first of the month (Wednesday January 1), January benefits should be paid on Tuesday December 31.

Tax Credit

Due date: December 25 2019 – Actual pay date: December 24

Due date: December 26 2019 – Actual pay date: December 24

Due date: January 1 2020 – Actual pay date: December 31

Child Benefit

This benefit is normally paid ever four weeks, on a Monday or a Tuesday. As the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday do not fall on these days this year, pay dates will not be affected.

Other benefits

These include employment support allowance, income support and jobseekers’ allowance.

If the payment date is the 25th or 26th of December (Christmas and Boxing Day) then benefits should be paid on Tuesday December 24.

If the payment date is the first of the month (Wednesday January 1), January benefits should be paid on Tuesday December 31.

It usually takes around five weeks for an eligible Universal Credit applicant to get their first payment.

This includes a one month assessment period and up to seven days for the payment to reach the account.

Following the first payment, a claimant will be paid on the same date of each month.

Should this date fall on a weekend or a bank holiday, then they’ll be paid on the working day prior to this.

It may be possible to apply for an advance loan ahead of the first Universal Credit payment, in order to help pay for bills or cover other costs.



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