State pensioners across the UK are set to receive an early cash boost of up to £921 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before the start of 2026.
The DWP has confirmed that its payment dates will be brought forward due to the bank holiday on New Year’s Day, meaning some benefits will be paid earlier than normal this month, including the State Pension. When a benefit payment falls on a bank holiday, the DWP will normally send the payment on the earliest working day before to ensure claimants get the financial support they need. As New Year’s Day is a bank holiday, the government department will issue State Pension payments – which are usually paid every four weeks – to some pensioners before the New Year kicks off on Thursday, January 1.
If your normal State Pension payment date falls on a Thursday then some pensioners will receive an unexpected early payment in their bank account this week, with some due to get up to £921 before 2026.
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 New Year, which this year will be Wednesday, December 31. As such, if your payment is due on the bank holiday, then your new payment date will be as follows:
- 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 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 currently 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.
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 this month as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.
