How benefits and pensions are paid
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
How often you’re paid
| Benefit | How often it's paid |
|---|---|
| Attendance Allowance | Usually every four weeks |
| Carer’s Allowance | Weekly in advance, or every four or 13 weeks |
| Child Benefit | Usually every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parent or you or your partner are getting certain benefits |
| Disability Living Allowance | Usually every four weeks |
| Employment and Support Allowance | Usually every two weeks |
| Income Support | Usually every two weeks |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | Usually every two weeks |
| Pension Credit | Usually every four weeks |
| Personal Independence Payment | Usually every four weeks |
| State Pension | Usually every four weeks |
| Tax credits, for example, Working Tax Credits | Every four weeks or weekly - check your payment dates for tax credits or Child Benefit if you’re paid every four weeks. |
| Universal Credit | Twice monthly |
Bank holidays
If your payment is due on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid on the last working day before the holiday.
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.
If you cannot open or manage a bank, building society or credit union account you should contact the office that pays your benefit to find out how to get it paid.
Changes to payments to Post Office card accounts
The Post Office card account service will close in November 2022.
Choosing a payment method
If you do not have a bank, building society or credit union account you can set up a new one to have your benefit or pension payments paid into.
To help you choose a payment method that is right for your circumstances, support services are available via:
- a dedicated helpline: 0800 085 7133
- Advice NI on 0800 915 4604
- MoneyHelper (previously Money Advice Service) on 0800 138 7777
- Age NI on 0808 808 7575 for advice and advocacy for those aged 50 and over.
- The Make the Call Wraparound Service is available for support and benefits advice.
Guardian’s Allowance and Tax Credits
You can get the money paid into any account, apart from a Nationwide Building Society account in someone else’s name.
Child Benefit
You can get the money paid into any account, apart from a Nationwide cash builder account (sort code 070030) in someone else’s name.
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, for example, the date and the amount.