This is when benefits and tax credits will be paid over Christmas and New Year 2020 - including child benefit and Universal Credit

This year many people are already struggling financially due to the pandemic, with the festive season meaning budgets will have to stretch even further.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced when people will receive their benefits over the Christmas period.

These dates are different to when claimants would usually be paid as there are multiple bank holidays around the corner.

As well as Christmas Day, 28 December is a bank holiday in 2020, since Boxing Day falls on a Saturday. New Year’s Day is also a bank holiday.

Universal Credit claimants will also receive a one-off Christmas welfare bonus, the DWP has confirmed.

Those who qualify will get £10 extra on top of their current payments.

Here’s the Christmas dates when your benefits will be paid.

When is Universal Credit paid at Christmas?

Universal Credit is usually paid into a claimant’s account on the same date every month.

However, the date you are paid changes if the day is a bank holiday or a Saturday or Sunday.

In this case, you will be paid on the Friday before the original payment date.

This minimises financial distress for claimants by ensuring you are not waiting on payments.

For this Christmas, the Universal Credit payment dates are as follows:

• If your payment is due between Christmas Eve and 28 December, you will be paid on Christmas Eve.
• If your payment is due on 30 December, you will be paid on that day.
• If your payment is due on 31 December, you will be paid on that day.
• If your payment is due on 1 January, you will be paid on 31 December.
• And if your payment is due on 4 January, you will be paid on that day.

What if I don’t receive my payment?