How and when your benefits are paid
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 tax credits and Child Benefit.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Payments over Christmas and New Year
Some payments will be made earlier if they’re due between 25 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.
Tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.
| When your payment is due | When Universal Credit will be paid | When other benefits will be paid (not Universal Credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December |
| Wednesday 25 December | Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December |
| Thursday 26 December | Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December |
| Friday 27 December | Friday 27 December | Tuesday 24 December |
| Wednesday 1 January | Tuesday 31 December | Tuesday 31 December |
| Thursday 2 January (Scotland only) | Thursday 2 January | Tuesday 31 December |
There are different dates for Child Benefit payments and tax credits.
How often you’re paid
| How often it’s paid | |
|---|---|
| Attendance Allowance | Usually every 4 weeks |
| Carer’s Allowance | Weekly in advance or every 4 weeks |
| Child Benefit | Usually every 4 weeks - or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits. |
| Disability Living Allowance | Usually every 4 weeks |
| Employment and Support Allowance | Usually every 2 weeks |
| Income Support | Usually every 2 weeks |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance | Usually every 2 weeks |
| Maternity Allowance | Every 2 or 4 weeks |
| Pension Credit | Usually every 4 weeks |
| Personal Independence Payment | Usually every 4 weeks |
| State Pension | Usually every 4 weeks |
| Tax credits, such as Working Tax Credit | Every 4 weeks or weekly. Check your payment date if you’re paid every 4 weeks. |
| Universal Credit | Every month |
How your benefits are paid
You’ll be asked for bank, building society or credit union account details when you claim. You can only get paid in a different way if you have problems opening or managing an account.
If you cannot open or manage a bank, building society or credit union account
Contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get it paid.
If you receive Universal Credit, call the Universal Credit helpline.
Paying back benefits
You can repay benefits and allowances you get but feel you do not need.
Write to the department that paid the benefit. Their address will be on any letter you’ve received from them.
Include a cheque made payable to the department, along with:
- your National Insurance number
- details of the payment, such as the date and the amount
You can only repay tax credits or Child Benefit if you’ve been overpaid.