Universal Credit is paid monthly, on the same date every month. Your payment date is set by your claim: you'll usually be paid 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends, and after the first payment you'll be paid on that same date every month (GOV.UK).
If your payment date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, you'll be paid on the working day before. If your payment date is the 29th, 30th or 31st and a month is shorter, you're paid on the last day of that month — and the calculator below handles that automatically.
Northern Ireland: Universal Credit works differently in Northern Ireland — it is paid twice a month by default, in two instalments for each assessment period (the first within 7 days of the end of the assessment period, the second within 22 days). You can ask to be paid monthly instead. The calculator shows the monthly pattern, so check your own instalment dates in your Universal Credit account.
Payment date calculator
Tell us your benefit and your usual payment pattern, and we will work out your next 6 payment dates — including any that move early because of weekends and bank holidays.
Bank holiday payment dates 2026–2027
If your Universal Credit payment is due on one of these bank holidays, you'll usually be paid on the last working day before it. Find your part of the UK:
England & Wales
| If your payment is due on | Bank holiday | You will usually be paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 1 May 2026 |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 22 May 2026 |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day | Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | Good Friday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | Easter Monday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 30 April 2027 |
| Monday 31 May 2027 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 28 May 2027 |
| Monday 30 August 2027 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 27 August 2027 |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | Christmas Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
| Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
Scotland
| If your payment is due on | Bank holiday | You will usually be paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
| Friday 2 January 2026 | 2nd January | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 1 May 2026 |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 22 May 2026 |
| Monday 15 June 2026 | World Cup bank holiday | Friday 12 June 2026 |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 31 July 2026 |
| Monday 30 November 2026 | St Andrew's Day | Friday 27 November 2026 |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day | Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Monday 4 January 2027 | 2nd January (substitute day) | Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | Good Friday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 30 April 2027 |
| Monday 31 May 2027 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 28 May 2027 |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 30 July 2027 |
| Tuesday 30 November 2027 | St Andrew's Day | Monday 29 November 2027 |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | Christmas Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
| Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
Northern Ireland
| If your payment is due on | Bank holiday | You will usually be paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
| Tuesday 17 March 2026 | St Patrick's Day | Monday 16 March 2026 |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 1 May 2026 |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 22 May 2026 |
| Monday 13 July 2026 | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) (substitute day) | Friday 10 July 2026 |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day | Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Wednesday 17 March 2027 | St Patrick's Day | Tuesday 16 March 2027 |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | Good Friday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | Easter Monday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 30 April 2027 |
| Monday 31 May 2027 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 28 May 2027 |
| Monday 12 July 2027 | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | Friday 9 July 2027 |
| Monday 30 August 2027 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 27 August 2027 |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | Christmas Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
| Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
Getting paid over Christmas and New Year? See the dedicated Christmas payment dates 2026/27 page. You can also see the full 2027 bank holiday payment calendar, or check dates for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
When is my first Universal Credit payment?
Your first assessment period starts the day you make your claim, and you'll usually be paid 7 days after that assessment period ends. After that, you're paid on the same date every month.
My payment date is the 31st — what happens in a 30-day month?
You're paid on the last day of the month instead (for example, 30 April, or 28/29 February). The following month it goes back to the 31st.
What happens if my payment date falls on a bank holiday?
You'll usually be paid on the working day before instead. This is automatic — you don't need to do anything, and it isn't an extra payment. Your following payment goes back to its normal date, so the gap after an early payment is a little longer than usual.
Why was I paid earlier than usual?
If your usual payment date landed on a weekend or a bank holiday, the payment was moved to the working day before. The amount is the same — only the date changes.
Is Universal Credit paid differently in Northern Ireland?
Yes. In Northern Ireland Universal Credit is paid twice a month by default, in two instalments per assessment period. You can ask to be paid monthly instead.
Official information: GOV.UK — Universal Credit. General payment rules: GOV.UK — How and when your benefits are paid.