State pension payment date changes take place in December – when will you be paid? | Personal Finance | Finance
As the cost of living crisis continues, this monthly income will no doubt be vital for many households. To help with budgeting, it is very important for pensioners to keep up to date with any changes to the payment date.
With Christmas just weeks away, many will wonder when their pension is coming so they can plan around festive bills and budgeting purposes.
State pension is usually paid every four weeks however next month some people may find it is paid a few days earlier.
In 2022, Christmas Day, December 25, falls on a Sunday.
As a result, Boxing Day on December 26, as well as December 27, will be bank holidays before the calendar reverts back to normal.
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The DWP has previously explained: “If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
The state pension is usually paid on a weekday, according to the last two digits of a National Insurance number, as follows:
- 00 to 19 – Monday
- 20 to 39 – Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – Thursday
- 80 to 99 – Friday
Pensioners that usually receive their payment on Monday and Tuesday may therefore be affected by the timing of this year’s Christmas bank holidays.
Those who would otherwise expect to receive their state pension on December 25 or 26 will instead receive them on December 23, the previous Friday.
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People who receive the state pension are paid in arrears – that is, for the past four weeks rather than the coming four weeks.
New recipients will get their first payment within five weeks of reaching state pension age, which is currently 66 for both men and women.
Pensioners will not have to take any action to receive this earlier payment, it should be noted.
This is because the system will update automatically to ensure people are paid the amount they are due.
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State pension payments are made into a bank, building society or credit union account of one’s choice.
Before recieving that state pensiion payments, pensioners could benefit from the Christmas boost.
The DWP said: “The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week.
“This is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim – you should get paid automatically.”
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off payment of £10, paid into the same account where benefits or state pension goes in.
It may say DWP XB alongside it on the bank statement.
To get a Christmas Bonus, claimants must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
The qualifying week is typically the first full week of December, which this year starts on Monday, December 5.
