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 don’t have one you could get paid using a Post Office card account.

    How often you’re paid

    BenefitHow often it’s paid
    Attendance AllowanceUsually every 4 weeks
    Basic State PensionUsually every 4 weeks
    Carer’s AllowanceWeekly in advance, or every 4 or 13 weeks
    Child BenefitEvery 4 weeks – or weekly if you’re a single parent or getting certain benefits
    Disability Living AllowanceUsually every 4 weeks
    Employment and Support AllowanceUsually every 2 weeks
    Jobseeker’s AllowanceUsually every 2 weeks
    Pension CreditUsually every 4 weeks
    Personal Independence PaymentUsually every 4 weeks
    Tax credits – eg Working Tax CreditsEvery 4 weeks or weekly
    Universal CreditEvery month

    Check your payment dates for tax credits or Child Benefit (if you’re paid every 4 weeks).

    Bank holidays

    Your payment is usually paid early if it’s 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 else’s name

    ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) have limits on the amount of money that can be paid into them. It’s recommended you don’t 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 don’t 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).