The amount of State Pension you receive from the DWP depends on when you retired and how many qualifying National Insurance years you have.

Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension, which is worth a maximum of £176.45 per week, or around £705.80 per month if you get the full rate.

Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, get the new State Pension, which is currently worth a maximum £230.25 per week, or around £921 per month if you get the full amount.

If your normal State Pension payment date falls on any of the bank holidays over the festive period then you can expect to receive your money early 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 payment 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
  

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.

Other DWP and HMRC benefits payment dates will also be affected by the bank holidays next month. If you aren’t sure when your payment usually falls, here’s a reminder of how often the following benefits are paid by the DWP and HMRC:

• Universal Credit – paid every month
• Pension Credit – usually paid every four weeks
• Disability Living Allowance – usually paid every four weeks
• Personal Independence Payment – usually paid every four weeks
• Attendance Allowance – paid every four weeks
• Carer’s Allowance – paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
• Employment Support Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
• Income Support – usually paid every two weeks
• Jobseeker’s Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
• Maternity Allowance – paid every two or four weeks
• Child Benefit (paid by HMRC) – usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parents or you or your partner get certain benefits
• Tax Credits (paid by HMRC) – paid every four weeks or weekly