TV Licence Fees 2020
The annual TV licensing fee is due to increase again from 1st April 2020. In addition, the TV licence will no longer be free for over-75s from then.
Changes to Benefits in 2020
UK Benefits 2020
Planned changes to the UK benefits system under the Conservative government will be going ahead as scheduled in 2020 following their win in the General Election in December 2019. This could mean more money or less money for some claimants due to the upcoming changes.
Self Assessment Tax Return Guide 2018 – 2019
If you need assistance with filing your tax return for 2018 – 2019, read the following guide. You can contact HMRC by calling the number above if you want to speak to a person regarding self-assessment tax returns.
Continue reading Self Assessment Tax Return Guide 2018 – 2019
Christmas Benefit Payment Dates 2019 – 2020
Christmas Benefit Payment Dates
The festive season with Christmas and New Year can be a stressful and expensive time for many families. Benefit payment delays can have a huge negative impact on people who are just trying to make ends meet. There are 3 bank holidays in the space of 1 week towards the end of the year. This means that payments that are due to be paid on the 25th or 26th December or 1st January need to be brought forward to prevent any financial hardship. Check below to find out which benefit payments will be affected by the Christmas and New Year bank holidays 2019-20.
Universal Credit Christmas Payment Dates 2019
Universal Credit is paid either once a month or once every 2 weeks. The regular payment dates should be different for each recipient, so check when your payments should be due in late December or early January.
| Payment Due | Payment Sent |
| Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Friday 27th December (Northern Ireland only) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
| Thursday 2nd January (Scotland only) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
If your Universal Credit payment is due on any other day than the bank holidays shown above, then you should receive the payment as normal.
Child Benefit Christmas Payment Dates 2019
Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday. As none of the festive bank holidays fall on a Monday or Tuesday this year, your Child Benefit payments should be unaffected. Even if you receive Child Benefit payments more frequently, this will still normally be on a Monday or Tuesday. However, if your Child Benefit payment is due on another weekday for whichever reason, it may change to the following:
| Payment Due | Payment Sent |
| Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Friday 27th December (Northern Ireland only) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
| Thursday 2nd January (Scotland only) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
Tax Credit Christmas Payment Dates 2019
Tax Credits, such as Working Tax Credit, are usually paid either weekly or every 4 weeks. Child Tax Credit is more likely to be paid weekly while Working Tax Credit is more likely to be paid 4-weekly to match regular workplace payment cycles. Tax Credits are currently being replaced by Universal Credit, but many households are still in receipt of the old tax credits. If this applies to you, your tax credit payment date could change.
| Payment Due | Payment Sent |
| Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Friday 27th December (Northern Ireland only) |
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) |
| Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
| Thursday 2nd January (Scotland only) |
Tuesday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) |
Other Benefit Payment Dates Christmas 2019
It’s not just the aforementioned benefits which could be affected by the winter bank holidays. The following benefits could also be paid earlier:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payments
- State Pension
If you are due to receive a payment for any of these benefits on a bank holiday, you should receive them the day before instead when that is a working day. The benefit payment due dates and the benefit payment receipt dates should follow the guidelines shown in the tables above.
What is the Christmas Bonus and do you qualify?
What is the Christmas Bonus?
Some people on benefits will receive a Christmas bonus of £10 in the first week of December. It may only be a small bonus, but every little helps at this expensive and busy time of year. If you do receive the Christmas bonus then you won’t have to pay it back as it isn’t a loan. This one-off payment is tax-free and won’t affect any other benefits.
Who can get the Christmas Bonus?
To be eligible for the Christmas Bonus payment, you must have been a resident in the UK, Europe, or Gibraltar and been receiving one of the following benefits in the qualifying week (1st full week of December):
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance (Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (after the first 13 weeks of claiming)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate)
- Industrial Death Benefit (widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension (at State Pension age)
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
You will not get the Christmas Bonus if you are not entitled to any of these qualifying benefits and you also are not claiming a State Pension.
How do you claim the Christmas Bonus?
If you are eligible for the Christmas Bonus then you should be paid the £10 automatically without having to claim it. The payment should go into whichever account you usually have your benefits paid into. This might show up under “DWP XB” on your bank statement for December. Contact the Jobcentre or the DWP if you should get a payment but don’t.
Will couples get the Christmas Bonus?
If both you and your partner are receiving a qualifying benefit, then you should both be entitled to the Christmas Bonus. You should each get a payment of £10 even if you are married, in a civil partnership, or living together. Your partner could still receive a Christmas Bonus of their own even if they don’t receive a qualifying benefit. This only applies if your partner was also resident and both of you were over State Pension age in the qualifying week, and the only qualifying benefit that you receive is Pension Credit. Call the Jobcentre or Pensions Centre if you only get one.