THE Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed when Universal Credit claimants will receive Christmas payments this week.

With Christmas fast approaching, people will be starting to budget for the most expensive period of the year.

Due to the recent £20 cut to Universal Credit benefits, claimants will be keen to know when they will be paid so that they can budget.

The National: Universal Credit £20 uplift ended in October. (PA)Universal Credit £20 uplift ended in October. (PA)

Universal Credit Christmas payments 2021

The Christmas holiday includes a number of Bank Holidays, which can affect when payments will be dropping into their bank accounts.

Universal Credit is paid to claimants via monthly payments, but if that payment date falls on a Bank Holiday then the payments will be made earlier.

Christmas Day 2021 falls on a Saturday while Boxing Day lands on a Sunday meaning Monday, 27 December and Tuesday, 28 December will be official Bank Holidays.

The Government website explains that if the usual payment date falls on a Bank Holiday then claimants will receive payments on the Friday before.

This means Universal Credit claimants can expect to receive their December payment on Christmas Eve.

If claimants are due to receive a payment on January 3, then they will receive the payment on December 31- New Year’s Eve.