Some pensioners will receive an early payment boost this month.
Some pensioners will see their usual State Pension payment date change in December (Image: Getty)
Older state pensioners across the UK are due to be handed an early payment boost of up to £705 before Christmas if they have a specific two-digit code.
The State Pension is usually paid every four weeks but the DWP has confirmed that some pensioners will see their usual payment date change in December due to several bank holidays over the festive period, which may affect how pensioners budget their finances. Some retirees can expect to receive their December payment before Christmas due to two bank holidays which fall on December 25 and December 26. A third bank holiday on New Year’s Day also means that some may receive their payment before January.
The amount of State Pension you receive from the DWP depends on when you retired and how many qualifying National Insurance years you have.
Older retirees – men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953 – receive the basic State Pension, which is currently worth a maximum of £176.45 per week, or around £705.80 per month if you get the full rate.
So if your normal State Pension payment date falls on any of the bank holidays over the festive period, then you can expect up to £705 to land in your bank account earlier than usual this month, with some due to get their cash before Christmas.
The DWP said: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for Child Benefit.
“Some payments will be made earlier if they’re due between 24 December 2025 and 2 January 2026. Tell the office that pays your benefit if you do not get your payment on the day it’s scheduled.”
The DWP will pay claimants on the final working day before Christmas, which this year will be Tuesday, December 23. As such, if your State Pension is due on any of the bank holidays, then your new payment date will be as follows:
- If you’re due to be paid on Wednesday, December 24, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday, December 23
- If you’re due to be paid on Thursday, December 25, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday December 23
- If you’re due to be paid on Friday, December 26, you’ll instead be paid on Tuesday December 23
- If you’re due to be paid on Thursday, January 1, you’ll instead be paid on Wednesday, December 31
- In Scotland only, if you’re due to be paid on Friday, January 2, you’ll instead be paid on Wednesday, December 31
The change in payment dates means that pensioners will have to make their money last a bit longer until their next payment arrives in January.
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of your National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
So if your National Insurance number ends in 40 to 59, or 60 to 79, this means your payment would normally arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday. As such, this may correspond with the Christmas bank holidays meaning you will be paid on the earliest working day before instead, which, during Christmas week, will be a Tuesday.
You don’t need to do anything if your payment date changes in December, as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
