DWP Christmas payment dates 2025 for Universal Credit, PIP & more

Due to the bank holidays many claimants will receive their payments on different days around Christmas and New Year.

The Government website explains: “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.” 

These are the dates you should be aware of.

DWP benefit payment dates over Christmas

If your payment was due to be paid on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, then you will receive your money on Wednesday, December 24.

If you are due to receive Universal Credit or any other benefit payment on New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1), then you should receive your payment on Wednesday, December 31.

In Scotland, the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been replaced by the Adult Disability Payment.

If you are receiving PIP and move to Scotland, you will now need to make a new claim for Adult Disability Payment. You do not need to complete a separate application if you send a PIP application form to Social Security Scotland; they will use it for Adult Disability Payment.

DWP benefit payment increase

Many benefits including Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Child Benefit will increase by 3.8% next year, in line with inflation figures from September.

These are the benefits that usually rise in line with inflation:

• Employment and support allowance
• Income support
• Industrial injuries disablement benefit
• Jobseeker’s allowance
• Maternity allowance
• Personal independence payment
• Statutory maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental pay
• Statutory sick pay
• Tax credits

These amounts vary by circumstances.

Universal Credit increases in 2026/27

The DWP has now confirmed payments will increase by more than 6% for claimants next April, reflecting September’s 3.8% inflation rate, plus the standard allowance increase of 2.3%.

Due to the increase in line with CPI, and the additional uprating factor, in 2026/27 Universal Credit standard allowances will increase:

• From £316.98 to £338.58 per month for single people aged under 25
• From £400.14 to £424.90 per month for single people aged 25 and over
• From £497.55 to £528.34 per month for joint claimants both aged under 25
• From £628.10 to £666.97 per month for joint claimants both aged 25 and over

It’s worth noting that that this increase is only for the standard allowance — the basic universal credit payment rate — and the health element of the payment may be affected by cuts.

From next April, any claimants of the health element from this date will have that rate frozen and halved until 2029-30.