Christmas and New Year 2026
| Payment due on | Paid on |
|---|---|
| Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) | Thursday 24 December |
| Monday 28 December (Boxing Day holiday) | Thursday 24 December |
| Friday 1 January (New Year’s Day) | Thursday 31 December |
| Monday 4 January (Scotland only) | Thursday 31 December |
- Monday 21 December
- Tuesday 22 December
- Wednesday 23 December
- Thursday 24 December, payments made early
- Friday 25 December, Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December
- Sunday 27 December
- Monday 28 December, Boxing Day (substitute day)
- Tuesday 29 December
- Wednesday 30 December
- Thursday 31 December, payments made early
- Friday 1 January, New Year’s Day
- Saturday 2 January
- Sunday 3 January
- Monday 4 January, 2 January (substitute day), Scotland only
- Tuesday 5 January
- Wednesday 6 January
- Thursday 7 January
- Friday 8 January
- Saturday 9 January
- Sunday 10 January
- Thursday 24 December: payments due 25 to 28 December
- Thursday 31 December: payments due 1 to 3 January, or 4 January in Scotland
Bank holidays from GOV.UK. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are holidays everywhere in the UK; 4 January is a holiday in Scotland only.
2027 bank holidays
| Bank holiday | Payments due that day are paid on |
|---|---|
| Good Friday, 26 March | Thursday 25 March |
| Easter Monday, 29 March | Thursday 25 March |
| Early May, Monday 3 May | Friday 30 April |
| Spring, Monday 31 May | Friday 28 May |
| Summer, Monday 30 August | Friday 27 August |
| Christmas, Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December | Friday 24 December |
| New Year, Monday 3 January 2028 | Friday 31 December |
These are England and Wales bank holidays. Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different ones, such as St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland and St Andrew’s Day in Scotland, which can change payment dates there.
Which payments move
The rule covers the money paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and by HMRC, including:
- the State Pension and Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance
You don’t need to do anything: the date changes automatically.
How often each is paid
- Universal Credit is paid once a month, about seven days after the end of each monthly assessment period.
- The State Pension is paid every four weeks, in arrears. Your day depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number.
- Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday.
Universal Credit and early wages
If your employer pays your December wages early, they can land in the same assessment period as November’s. Universal Credit then counts both, so that month’s payment is lower, and the next is usually higher. If it happens, keep your payslips and tell your work coach in your journal if anything looks wrong.
The £10 Christmas Bonus
If you get the State Pension or some other benefits, you’ll also get a £10 Christmas Bonus in early December. It’s paid automatically with your usual payment, it isn’t taxed, and it doesn’t affect your other benefits.
If a payment doesn’t arrive
Check the new date first, and give your bank until the end of the day. If it still isn’t there, contact the office that pays it: through your online journal for Universal Credit, or the Pension Service or the Child Benefit Office. If you’re on Universal Credit and can’t manage until your next payment, you may be able to get an advance, which you repay from later payments.
Plan for the long gap
After an early Christmas payment, the next one can feel a long way off. Make a budget for January, and if money is tight, see our free money help page.