EARLY payment dates for benefits including Universal Credit have been confirmed for Christmas and New Year.

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the dates that people will receive benefits over the Christmas and New Year period, including early date payments for Universal Credit, PIP and the State Pension.

With Christmas Day and Boxing Day falling on Saturday and Sunday, this year’s bank holidays fall on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December.

This means, anyone who was due to receive their payment on or between the 25th to 28th December will as a result receive their payment early on Christmas Eve (Friday 24th December).

With New Year also falling on the weekend and followed by a bank holiday on Monday 3rd January, those who are paid on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of the month will receive their January payment on Friday 31st December instead.

Those who are usually paid on the 29th, 30th or 31st of the month will receive their payments on those dates as usual.

David Rutley, Minister for Welfare Delivery, said:

“Making these payments early means people will receive their money sooner rather than later, an especially welcome move at this time of the year.”