DWP issues important Christmas and New Year reminder to anyone who claims benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reminding benefit claimants that there may be a change to their payments in the run-up to Christmas and New Year's Day.

The government department reminded users on social media that payment dates could be brought forward if they were due to get paid on certain days. For example, if someone expects to receive their benefit payment on Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day - they will instead receive it on the earliest Friday which would be December 22.

Early payments are issued to those generally paid on bank holidays and shouldn't be a strange phenomenon for any claimant that was due to be paid on a bank holiday before. However, due to a few bank holidays being so close together throughout the Christmas period, it can be hard to figure out when exactly you should be getting paid.

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Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the DWP said: "Information for claimants already receiving payments. Your payment dates may be brought forward due to the festive period. Please contact us straight away if there is a problem with your payment."