DWP has confirmed the state pension and Universal Credit face payment date overhaul for January 2026.
DWP state pension and benefits face overhaul at beginning of January
The Department for Work and Pensions is set to rollout changes to state pensions, and other benefits, at the beginning of January. The DWP has confirmed the state pension and Universal Credit face payment date overhaul for January 2026.
Retirees could be paid state pensions and claimants their DWP benefits earlier than expected due to bank holidays in the New Year, it has been announced. B enefit claimants who receive payments on the first of every month will instead get their cash on December 31, 2025 instead of New Year’s Day.
This is due to it being a bank holiday. While the vast majority of benefits will be paid on their regular payment date, the following payments will be paid on December 31 instead of January 1 if someone usually gets paid on the first of the month.
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The list includes Universal Credit, State pension and Pension Credit as well as HMRC Child Benefit, Disability living allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Other benefits include Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Employment support allowance (ESA), Income support and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
In Scotland, benefit claimants who receive certain payments on the second of the month will also get paid on December 31 as January 2 is also a bank holiday.
The DWP said: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for Child Benefit.”
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for Child Benefit, though, the DWP says on its website.