PIP claimants are being urged to take account of payment changes on five dates over the festive period

PIP claimants warned five key dates will impact regular payments of up to £737

by · Birmingham Live

People claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are being warned that five key dates will affect their regular monthly payments of up to £737. A succession of public holidays and benefit office closures will interrupt the normal schedule of DWP dates.

The changes in December and early January will mean your disability benefits go into your account on a different date than usual. PIP, DLA and some other benefits are paid on the same weekday every four weeks but this pattern has to be adjusted over the festive period, meaning recipients must take account of the changes for their household budgeting over the holidays.

More than 3.6 million people are now on PIP, though all recipients in Scotland are being transferred to a new devolved Adult Disability Payment. Another 1.3 million people receive Disability Living Allowance - and while new claims can only be made for people under 16, the total includes more than 600,000 adults who are still on the benefit and yet to be moved across to PIP instead.

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PIP and DLA are usually paid every four weeks, with people getting their benefit payment on the same day of the working week in a four-weekly cycle. But there will changes over the festive break due to government offices and banks being closed.

Payments due on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, should go in as normal with no adjustment needed as this is a normal working day. But there will be changes in the days after that.

PIP payments that are scheduled for Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25, or Boxing Day on Thursday, December 26, will go in on December 24 instead. This will also apply to any payments due on Friday, December 27, even though it is a normal working day of the week. Only Universal Credit payments will go in as usual on December 27, all other benefits will arrive earlier on December 24.

In addition, PIP payments that are scheduled for New Year's Day on Wednesday, January 1, will instead go in on New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31. And in Scotland, the extended New Year celebrations will mean PIP due to go in on Wednesday, January 2, will also be brought forward to December 31.

Here's a list of the new payment dates:

  • Payment due Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24 - will go in as normal
  • Payment due Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25 - will go in on Tuesday, December 24
  • Payment due Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26 - will go in on Tuesday, December 24
  • Payment due Friday, December 27 - will go in on Tuesday, December 24
  • Payment due New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31 - will go in as normal
  • Payment due New Year's Day on Wednesday, January 1 - will go in on Tuesday, December 31
  • Payment due Thursday, January 2 - will go in as normal EXCEPT in Scotland where it will go in on Wednesday, January 1

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