DWP Christmas payment dates

Adjusted Payment Dates for Bank Holidays

Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25, 2025) and Boxing Day (Friday, December 26, 2025) are both bank holidays, as is New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1, 2026). Payments due on these dates will be made early on the preceding working day:

• Payments due December 25 or 26, 2025: Paid on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve).
• Payments due January 1, 2026: Paid on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

This follows the standard DWP rule for weekends and bank holidays, where payments shift to the prior working day. In Scotland, some social security benefits (like those from Social Security Scotland) may be paid slightly earlier for Boxing Day—e.g., on Tuesday, December 23—but DWP-administered benefits align with the December 24 date. Northern Ireland sees minor tweaks for certain payments (e.g., Tax Credits due December 27 paid December 24; Child Benefit due December 31 paid December 30).

Affected Benefits

These changes apply to a wide range of DWP benefits, depending on your regular payment schedule (e.g., weekly, fortnightly, or every four weeks). Key examples include:

• Attendance Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• State Pension

Universal Credit is paid monthly and follows the same rule if your assessment period ends on a holiday. Child Benefit and Tax Credits (HMRC-administered but often referenced alongside DWP) are also affected, though Child Benefit dates may not shift in some cases—check your schedule via GOV.UK.

If your payment doesn't arrive as expected, it could be due to bank processing (via BACS, which can take until early morning). Contact your benefit helpline (e.g., Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644; PIP: 0800 121 4433) after checking—note that lines close on bank holidays.

Christmas Bonus

Separately, eligible claimants receive a one-off, tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus automatically in the first full week of December 2025 (typically by mid-December). This hasn't increased from previous years and goes to recipients of 24 qualifying benefits (e.g., State Pension, PIP, Carer's Allowance, but not Universal Credit). Full eligibility details are on GOV.UK—no need to claim if you're already getting a qualifying benefit.

* Please always check official sources for the latest details and information.