London — Sunday, 21 December 2025. With Christmas week now days away, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC guidance is clear: some benefit and pension payments will arrive earlier than usual because of the Christmas and New Year bank holidays — and Jobcentre Plus and key helplines will run reduced hours on specific days. [1]
For millions of households relying on Universal Credit, PIP, Pension Credit, State Pension and other payments, the practical message is simple: know your revised date, budget for a longer gap until the next payment, and check opening times before calling or visiting. [2]
The most important DWP payment changes for Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026
DWP’s official timetable confirms different “paid on” dates depending on whether you receive Universal Credit (UC) or other DWP benefits. [3]
If you get Universal Credit: Christmas and New Year pay dates
- Payment due Wednesday 24 December 2025: paid Wednesday 24 December 2025 (no change) [4]
- Payment due Thursday 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day): paid Wednesday 24 December 2025 [5]
- Payment due Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day): paid Wednesday 24 December 2025 [6]
- Payment due Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day): paid Wednesday 31 December 2025 [7]
- Payment due Friday 2 January 2026 (Scotland only): paid Friday 2 January 2026 [8]
DWP also notes that Universal Credit might be paid early if it is due between Thursday 25 December 2025 and Friday 2 January 2026. [9]
If you get other DWP benefits (not Universal Credit): Christmas and New Year pay dates
- Payment due Wednesday 24 December 2025: paid Tuesday 23 December 2025 [10]
- Payment due Thursday 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day): paid Tuesday 23 December 2025 [11]
- Payment due Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day): paid Tuesday 23 December 2025 [12]
- Payment due Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day): paid Wednesday 31 December 2025 [13]
- Payment due Friday 2 January 2026 (Scotland only): paid Wednesday 31 December 2025 [14]
DWP’s wider rule is that if your payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you will usually be paid on the working day before (with separate rules for Child Benefit). [15]
Which benefits are covered by these Christmas payment changes?
The early-payment rules affect people across a wide range of DWP-administered benefits and pensions, including Universal Credit and “legacy” benefits as well as disability benefits and pensions. Recent reporting has highlighted that this can include State Pension, Pension Credit, PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, ESA, Income Support and JSA. [16]
The key point is not the name of the benefit, but whether you are in the Universal Credit column or the other benefits column in the official DWP Christmas/New Year schedule. [17]
Universal Credit Christmas payments 2025: what claimants should check now
Universal Credit is typically paid once a month, on the same date after your first payment, and you can view your monthly statement in your online account. [18]
Why this matters in late December
If your UC payment is brought forward to Christmas Eve (24 December) or New Year’s Eve (31 December), it is not extra money — it is the same monthly payment arriving early. That can mean a longer-than-usual gap until the next scheduled payment in January.
If you’re unsure which date applies to you:
- check your UC online account (statement/payment date), or
- use the DWP Christmas/New Year payment timetable as the rulebook for the bank-holiday period. [19]
State Pension payments: your NI number decides your usual weekday
For New State Pension, the usual weekday you’re paid depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance (NI) number — and you may be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday. [20]
Here is the official weekday pattern:
- 00 to 19: Monday [21]
- 20 to 39: Tuesday [22]
- 40 to 59: Wednesday [23]
- 60 to 79: Thursday [24]
- 80 to 99: Friday [25]
Then, for the festive bank holidays, the DWP early-payment timetable applies in the same way it does for other non-UC benefits — for example, if your payment is due on 25 or 26 December, the DWP schedule shows other benefits being paid on 23 December. [26]
Child Benefit: usually unchanged at Christmas — but NI and Scotland dates can move
Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, and there are different payment dates if it falls on a bank holiday. [27]
For the 2025 festive period, HMRC’s bank-holiday list highlights specific date changes that can apply, including:
- Due date 29 December 2025 → paid 30 December (Northern Ireland only) [28]
- Due date 30 December 2025 → paid 31 December (Northern Ireland only) [29]
- Due date 5 January 2026 → paid 6 January (Scotland only) [30]
HMRC also notes your payment might be delayed if your bank is closed for a public holiday on the day HMRC pays you — and advises checking with your bank. [31]
If a Child Benefit payment seems late, HMRC guidance says to check your payment date and contact your bank before calling the Child Benefit Office. [32]
Jobcentre Plus Christmas opening times 2025: what’s open and what’s closed
Alongside payment changes, Jobcentre Plus opening times change over Christmas and New Year, and the pattern differs depending on whether you are in England and Wales or Scotland. [33]
England and Wales: Jobcentres and phone lines
- Mon 22 Dec 2025: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [34]
- Tue 23 Dec 2025: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [35]
- Wed 24 Dec 2025:offices and phone lines closed [36]
- Thu 25 Dec 2025: closed [37]
- Fri 26 Dec 2025: closed [38]
- Mon 29 – Wed 31 Dec 2025: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [39]
- Thu 1 Jan 2026: closed [40]
- Fri 2 Jan 2026: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [41]
Scotland: Jobcentres and phone lines
- Mon 22 – Wed 24 Dec 2025: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [42]
- Thu 25 Dec 2025: closed [43]
- Fri 26 Dec 2025: closed [44]
- Mon 29 – Wed 31 Dec 2025: open as usual (phone lines until 4pm) [45]
- Thu 1 Jan 2026: closed [46]
- Fri 2 Jan 2026:closed [47]
If you have an appointment or need to contact your work coach, these closure dates can be as important as the payment timetable — particularly in England and Wales, where 24 December is listed as closed for offices and phone lines. [48]
Universal Credit helpline Christmas opening times 2025
For Universal Credit claimants who need phone support (for example if you cannot access your online account), GOV.UK lists a specific festive opening schedule.
The Universal Credit helpline is:
- Telephone: 0800 328 5644
- Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 [49]
Helpline opening times over Christmas and New Year
- Mon 22 Dec: 8am–6pm [50]
- Tue 23 Dec: 8am–6pm [51]
- Wed 24 Dec: 8am–5pm (Scotland only) [52]
- Thu 25 Dec: closed [53]
- Fri 26 Dec: closed [54]
- Mon 29 Dec: 8am–6pm [55]
- Tue 30 Dec: 8am–6pm [56]
- Wed 31 Dec: 8am–5pm [57]
- Thu 1 Jan: closed [58]
- Fri 2 Jan: 8am–6pm (England and Wales only) [59]
Also note: if you live in Northern Ireland and want to use a helpline, GOV.UK directs you to contact the Universal Credit Service Centre instead. [60]
DWP Christmas Bonus 2025: who gets the £10 payment?
Separate from changed payment dates, the DWP Christmas Bonus is a long-running one-off payment.
What the Christmas Bonus is
- A one-off, tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas
- Paid to people who get certain benefits in the “qualifying week” (normally the first full week of December)
- You do not need to claim — it should be paid automatically [61]
It may appear on your bank statement as “DWP XB”, according to GOV.UK. [62]
Full list of benefits that can qualify for the £10 Christmas Bonus
To qualify, you must generally be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK (or certain related territories) during the qualifying week, and receive at least one qualifying benefit. GOV.UK lists the qualifying benefits as: [63]
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once in the main phase after 13 weeks)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension [64]
GOV.UK also makes clear that if you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not get a Christmas Bonus. [65]
What if you think you should get the Christmas Bonus — but it hasn’t arrived?
GOV.UK says you do not need to claim it, but if you think you should get it and haven’t by 1 January, you should contact the office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service. [66]
What to do if your benefit payment doesn’t arrive
If your money is due during the festive period, it’s worth remembering that payments can land earlier than your usual date, so an “unexpected” deposit can be normal — especially on 23 December, 24 December, or 31 December. [67]
If the payment genuinely hasn’t arrived:
- DWP guidance says to tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled. [68]
- For Universal Credit, you can contact UC through your online account or via the helpline (noting reduced holiday opening hours). [69]
- For Child Benefit, HMRC advises checking the payment date and contacting your bank before calling the Child Benefit Office. [70]
Bottom line for claimants on 21 December 2025
If you rely on a DWP payment over the next two weeks, the key things to do today are:
- Identify whether you’re on Universal Credit or another benefit (the “paid on” dates differ). [71]
- Circle the key dates: 23 Dec, 24 Dec and 31 Dec are the most common “early pay” days. [72]
- Check service availability before travelling or calling — Jobcentre and helpline opening hours differ by nation and by date. [73]
- If you’re expecting the £10 Christmas Bonus, confirm you were on a qualifying benefit in the qualifying week — and remember it may show as DWP XB. [74]
For households already feeling the squeeze heading into Christmas week, getting the dates right can prevent avoidable stress — and help make sure the money you’re due is where you need it, when you need it. [75]
References
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