Payment dates may be slightly different over the festive period
Christmas shoppers in Belfast city centre(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
The Department for Communities has confirmed benefit payment dates over the Christmas and New Year’s period.
With Christmas just days away, and New Year’s Day following soon after, some have asked when they will be paid, and if it will change due to the bank holidays.
Benefit claimants in Northern Ireland whose usual payments correspond with a bank holiday over the festive period, will receive the payment the day before it would normally be due.
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A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “If a payment corresponds with a bank holiday over the festive period, the claimant will receive the payment before the day it would normally be due.
“Benefits operate on different payment systems so depending on the specific benefit and when the bank holiday falls, some claimants will receive payments earlier than others.”
Some payments will be made earlier if they’re due between 24 December 2025 and 2 January 2026. People have been advised to tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.
Northern Ireland Christmas benefit datesNorthern Ireland Child Benefit payment dates
There are different dates for Child Benefit payments over the festive period. If your payment is due on December 29, 2025, it will be received on December 30.
If your payment is due on December 30, 2025, it will be received on December 30.
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