New dates Universal Credit payments will be made over Christmas and New Year revealed
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that some Universal Credit and other benefit payments due to be paid between 25 December 2024 and 2 January 2025 will be made earlier than planned this year.
- Universal Credit payments due on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will be paid on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
- Additional support for struggling families also available from the government’s extended Household Support Fund.
- Part of the Government’s commitment to put more money into people’s pockets through the Plan for Change.
Some Universal Credit and other benefit payments due between 25 December 2024 and 2 January 2025 will be made early to make sure everyone gets the support they need over Christmas, the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed.
People due to receive their Universal Credit payment on Wednesday 25 December will now receive it on Tuesday 24 December, while those due to receive theirs on Wednesday 1 January will get paid on Tuesday 31 December.
There will also be payments for other benefits made early, including Child Benefit and Tax Credits, during this period of added financial pressure for low-income families.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:
“While a time of joy for many, the Christmas period can be overshadowed by financial worry for others, particularly for families on the lowest incomes.
“Our Plan for Change will deliver the long-term economic stability and growth needed to improve every family’s financial security by putting more money in their pockets while we take immediate action to support them with the cost of living.
“As well as bringing forward benefit payments to continue support over Christmas, our Household Support Fund can also provide extra help, and I encourage anyone struggling to get in touch with their local council to see if they are eligible.”
In September, the Household Support Fund received a £421 million cash injection extending it through to March 2025. At Budget, an additional £1 billion was allocated extending it even further through to March 2026, so councils can continue to provide an extra safety net of cost of living support for longer.
The Fund is also being used by councils, working in collaboration with local charities and community groups, to provide residents with key appliances, school uniforms, cookery classes, and items to improve energy efficiency in the home.
700,000 of the poorest households with children receiving Universal Credit will also benefit from the introduction of a new Fair Repayment Rate on benefit deductions.
This new rate means the amount deducted from someone’s benefit payment due to an overpayment is reduced from 25% to 15%, saving those who need to repay up to £420.
The Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so people receive the support they need as swiftly as possible, as it progresses with wider work to fix the social security system, reduce poverty and put more money in people’s pockets, a key part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.
Additional Information
The payment dates are as follows:
| When your payment is due | When Universal Credit will be paid | When tax credits will be paid | When Child Benefit will be paid | When other benefits will be paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December | - | - | Tuesday 24 December |
| Wednesday 25 December | Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December | - | Tuesday 24 December |
| Thursday 26 December | Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December | - | Tuesday 24 December |
| Friday 27 December | Friday 27 December | Tuesday 24 December | - | Tuesday 24 December |
| Monday 30 December | - | - | Tuesday 31 December | - |
| Wednesday 1 January | Tuesday 31 December | Tuesday 31 December | - | Tuesday 31 December |
| Thursday 2 January | Thursday 2 January | Tuesday 31 December | - | Tuesday 31 December |