Many UK households claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will see cash land in their bank accounts earlier than normal in December.
PIP payments are issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) every four weeks to those with long-term physical or mental conditions who need help with extra living costs.
There are two parts to the payment – a daily living part if you need help with everyday tasks, and a mobility part if you need help with getting around. These are paid at the following rates:
Daily living part – £72.65 per week (lower), or £108.55 (higher)
Mobility part – £28.70 per week (lower), or £75.75 (higher)
The amount you get depends on how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks, but the maximum you could get over a four-week payment period is £737.20 (if you get the higher rate of the daily living and mobility parts).
As two bank holidays fall in December – on Christmas Day and Boxing Day – PIP claimants will see their usual payment date change this month, with benefits arriving in bank accounts earlier than normal.
If your usual payment date falls on December 25 or December 26, then you will be paid on the working day before.
The DWP said: “If your payment date is on a weekend or bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for tax credits and Child Benefit.”
So if your normal payment date falls on either of the December bank holidays, you will instead get your payment from the DWP on Tuesday, December 24.
You don’t need to do anything if your payment date changes in December, as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account. But the change does mean claimants will have to make their money last a bit longer until their next payment arrives in January next year.
PIP claimants should also be aware of another change to payment dates around New Year as January 1 is also a bank holiday. This year New Year’s Day falls on a Wednesday, so if you are due to be paid on January 1 you should instead receive this payment a day earlier on Tuesday, December 31.
Other DWP and HMRC benefits payment dates will also be affected by the bank holidays in December and early January. If you aren’t sure when your payment usually falls, here’s a reminder of how often the following benefits are paid:
Universal Credit – paid every month
Pension Credit – usually paid every four weeks
Disability Living Allowance – usually paid every four weeks
Personal Independence Payment – usually paid every four weeks
Attendance Allowance – paid every four weeks
Carer’s Allowance – paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
Employment Support Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Income Support – usually paid every two weeks
Jobseeker’s Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Maternity Allowance – paid every two or four weeks
Child Benefit (paid by HMRC) – usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits
Tax Credits (paid by HMRC) – paid every four weeks or weekly