How and when your benefits are paid
Benefit payments and bank and post office card accounts
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account – if you donÂt have one you could get paid using a Post Office card account.
How often you’re paid
Benefit | How often it’s paid |
---|---|
Attendance Allowance | Usually every 4 weeks |
Basic State Pension | Usually every 4 weeks |
Carer’s Allowance | Weekly in advance, or every 4 or 13 weeks |
Child Benefit | Every 4 weeks – or weekly if youÂre a single parent or getting certain benefits |
Disability Living Allowance | Usually every 4 weeks |
Employment and Support Allowance | Usually every 2 weeks |
Jobseeker’s Allowance | Usually every 2 weeks |
Pension Credit | Usually every 4 weeks |
Personal Independence Payment | Usually every 4 weeks |
Tax credits – eg Working Tax Credits | Every 4 weeks or weekly |
Universal Credit | Every month |
Check your payment dates for tax credits or Child Benefit (if youÂre paid every 4 weeks).
Bank holidays
Your payment is usually paid early if itÂs due on a bank holiday.
Bank holiday payment dates for tax credits and Child Benefit.
How your benefits are paid
You’ll be asked for your bank, building society or credit union account details when you claim. You can normally only get paid in a different way if you have problems opening or managing an account.
For Child Benefit, Guardian’s Allowance and Tax Credits the money can’t be paid into:
- Child Trust Fund accounts
- children’s accounts
- business and building society accounts that use a passbook
- National Savings and Investments (NS&I) accounts (apart from NS&I Investment Accounts and Direct Saver Accounts)
- some mortgage accounts
- a Nationwide account in someone elseÂs name
ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) have limits on the amount of money that can be paid into them. ItÂs recommended you donÂt use these for Child Benefit.
Post Office card account
These accounts are specifically designed for you to receive benefits, state pension and tax credits.
No other income can be paid into your Post Office card account, eg your salary.
Open a Post Office card account
To open an account you’ll need:
- to contact the office that pays your benefit
- proof of identity, eg a passport
- proof of where you’re living, eg a recent bill with your name and address on it
If you donÂt have a bank or Post Office card account, contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get your benefits paid.
Paying back benefits
You can repay any benefits and allowances you get but feel you don’t 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 and details of the payment (eg the date and the amount).