State pension payment dates for Christmas 2021 explained
RETIREES getting state pension payments over the Christmas period might find they arrive on different dates.
That goes for a range of benefit payments as well as the state pension.
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year and Boxing Day on a Sunday.
These days are bank holidays, but because they fall on a weekend, "substitute" bank holiday days fall on the next working days afterwards.
So there are two bank holidays over Christmas 2021, and they are on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 of December.
Because of this, anyone who usually gets their state pension paid on a Monday or Tuesday won't get the payments on the usual date.
When will my state pension be paid over Christmas?
If your state pension payment date falls on a bank holiday, you'll usually be paid on the working day before.
That means you will get your payment earlier than usual, on Friday December 24 - Christmas Eve - which is a normal working day.
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You don't need to do anything if your usual date for getting the state pension falls on a bank holiday.
The payment should be made earlier automatically.
If your payment date falls on a normal day that's not a bank holiday this festive season, then you'll get your payment as usual.
How do I find out when my state pension is paid?
The state pension is usually paid every four weeks.
The day your state pension is paid usually depends on the last two digits of this identification number.
If those digits are between 00 and 19, the day your state pension is paid is on a Monday.
It’s Tuesday if they are between 20 and 39, and Wednesday if the digits are between 40 and 59.
Those ending 60 to 79 are paid on a Thursday, and numbers 80 to 99 are usually paid on Fridays.
If your National Insurance number ends in digits between 00 to 19, or 20 to 39, then you are likely to be affected by this change over Christmas.
That's because there is a bank holiday on the Monday and Tuesday, when payments will not be made this Christmas.
What other benefit payment dates will change over Christmas?
A number of other benefit payments are likely to follow the same changes too.
Universal Credit claimants will see the same changes and those claiming the following support:
- Employment support allowance (ESA)
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Carer's allowance
- Pension credit
- Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
- Attendance allowance
If you normally get any of these benefits and are expecting a payment on Monday, December 27 or Tuesday, December 28, you could get it earlier on Friday, December 24 instead.
Anyone getting tax credits or child benefit will also get their payments early on December 24.
Will the amount I'm paid change?
The amount of state pension you get won't change if it's paid on a differenet date.
Neither will any of the other benefits, unless you've has a change of circumstances that affects how much you get too.
Remember too that being paid earlier than normal means that you'll need to make it stretch an extra day this time next month..
Make sure you take this into account when working out your household budgets.
What if my payment is delayed this Bank Holiday?
If your money is not paid on time, then you should double-check the date you get paid normally and contact your bank before calling DWP.
If something's not right, you can also submit a complaint to the DWP.
What other bank holidays could affect my payments?
Christmas isn't the only bank holiday coming up over the festive season.
There are also bank holidays for the new year:
- January 3, 2022
- January 4, 2022 (Scotland only)
In most cases, the DWP says if your payment is due on a bank holiday you'll be paid on the working day before.
As new years day falls on Saturday this year, there is a bank holiday on Monday, January 3, 2022.
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As payment is usually made early, that means payment can be expected on Friday, December 31, 2021
But there are differences and for Scotland and Northern Ireland bank holidays, these may be paid after.
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