How and when your benefits are paid

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 tax credits and Child Benefit.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How often you’re paid

	How often it’s paid
Attendance Allowance	Usually every 4 weeks
Carer’s Allowance	Weekly in advance or every 4 weeks
Child Benefit	Usually every 4 weeks - or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits.
Disability Living Allowance	Usually every 4 weeks
Employment and Support Allowance	Usually every 2 weeks
Income Support	Usually every 2 weeks
Jobseeker’s Allowance	Usually every 2 weeks
Maternity Allowance	Every 2 or 4 weeks
Pension Credit	Usually every 4 weeks
Personal Independence Payment	Usually every 4 weeks
State Pension	Usually every 4 weeks
Tax credits, such as Working Tax Credit	Every 4 weeks or weekly. Check your payment date if you’re paid every 4 weeks.
Universal Credit	Every month

How your benefits are paid

You’ll be asked for bank, building society or credit union account details when you claim. You can only get paid in a different way if you have problems opening or managing an account.

If you cannot open or manage a bank, building society or credit union account

Contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get it paid.

If you receive Universal Credit, call the Universal Credit helpline.

Paying back benefits

You can repay benefits and allowances you get but feel you do not need.

Write to the department that paid the benefit. Their address will be on any letter you’ve received from them.

Include a cheque made payable to the department, along with:

• your National Insurance number
• details of the payment, such as the date and the amount

You can only repay tax credits or Child Benefit if you’ve been overpaid.