Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. After the first payment, you will be paid on the same date of every month, usually 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before.
Key points
✓After the first payment, you will be paid on the same date of every month. You will usually get your payment 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends.
✓If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before.
✓It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment.
✓In Scotland you can get paid once or twice a month. In Northern Ireland Universal Credit is normally paid to a household twice a month.
✓If you are paid monthly and your payday changes, for example to avoid a weekend, your Universal Credit will usually be adjusted automatically so that you get your usual amount.
How Universal Credit payment dates work
Universal Credit is calculated based on your circumstances each month. These are called your assessment periods. Your first assessment period starts the day you make a claim. You will usually get your payment 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends. After the first payment, you will be paid on the same date of every month.
Example: Sam makes a new Universal Credit claim on 10 September. Sam's first assessment period runs for one month to 9 October, with a new assessment period beginning on 10 October. They get paid on 17 October and then on the 17th of each month after that.
You can see your monthly statement in your online account, which tells you how much Universal Credit you are going to get
Your online account shows when your next payment is due and how much you will get
It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment. If you need money while you wait, you can apply for an advance
If you are not able to open a bank, building society or credit union account, call the Universal Credit helpline
Need the first payment sooner? The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment. See our how to apply guide for how to ask for one.
What happens on weekends and bank holidays?
If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before.
In Northern Ireland, if your Universal Credit payment date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the payment will be made on the previous banking day. You can find the date you will be paid by logging into your online account and looking at the payments section.
Christmas and New Year 2026/27 payment dates
The bank holidays are Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day) and Monday 28 December 2026 (the Boxing Day substitute day). A payment date from Friday 25 to Monday 28 December 2026 is on a weekend or a bank holiday, so you will be paid on the working day before.
New Year's Day 2027 is Friday 1 January. In Scotland, Monday 4 January 2027 is also a bank holiday, the substitute for 2 January.
Check your online account for the date of your next payment.
Why you might get two UC payments in one month
Universal Credit is paid once a month. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before.
Your Universal Credit can be affected if you do not get paid or get paid more than once in an assessment period. If you are paid monthly and your payday changes, for example to avoid a weekend, your Universal Credit will usually be adjusted automatically so that you get your usual amount. If it looks like you will get too much or too little Universal Credit, tell Universal Credit in your online account. In some circumstances it can be adjusted so that you get your usual amount.
Paid every 4 weeks: once a year, you will have an assessment period with 2 paydays
Paid every 2 weeks: twice a year, you will have an assessment period with 3 paydays
Paid every week: four times a year, you will have an assessment period with 5 paydays
When you get more wages than usual in an assessment period, you may get less Universal Credit for that month, or no Universal Credit because you are earning enough to no longer claim it.
If monthly payments are hard to manage
You can ask to have your Universal Credit paid differently if you need help managing a single monthly payment. This is called an alternative payment arrangement. It could mean your rent is paid directly to your landlord, you receive payments twice a month instead of once a month, or you arrange to get a separate payment from your partner.
Contact Universal Credit after you have made a claim to ask for an alternative payment arrangement. They will decide whether you should have one based on your circumstances
You are more likely to get one if you have unpaid rent, addiction problems, mental health issues, learning difficulties, experience of homelessness or experience of domestic abuse
In Scotland you can get paid once or twice a month. If you make a new claim, you will get a notification about how often you want to be paid after your first payment
In Northern Ireland, after you have made your claim you can ask for your Universal Credit to be paid monthly by messaging your work coach in your online account
If you need help to manage your budget or bills, you can get free advice
If you both claim Universal Credit, you will get one payment each month for your household.
When are Universal Credit payments made, and can you change your payment date?
After the first payment you are paid on the same date of every month, usually 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends. You can ask for your Universal Credit to be paid differently if you need help managing a single monthly payment, which could mean your rent paid directly to your landlord, payments twice a month instead of once a month, or a separate payment from your partner. In Scotland you can get paid once or twice a month.
What day is Universal Credit paid?
Universal Credit is paid once a month. After the first payment you are paid on the same date of every month, and you will usually get your payment 7 days after each monthly assessment period ends. Your online account shows when your next payment is due and how much you will get.
Is Universal Credit paid early on bank holidays?
If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before. In Northern Ireland the payment will be made on the previous banking day.
When is Universal Credit paid at Christmas 2026?
The bank holidays are Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day) and Monday 28 December 2026 (the Boxing Day substitute day). A payment date from Friday 25 to Monday 28 December 2026 is on a weekend or a bank holiday, so you will be paid on the working day before. New Year's Day 2027 is Friday 1 January. Your online account shows when your next payment is due.
Why did I get two Universal Credit payments in one month?
Universal Credit is paid once a month. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday, you will be paid on the working day before. If you are paid monthly and your payday changes, for example to avoid a weekend, your Universal Credit will usually be adjusted automatically so that you get your usual amount. If it looks like you will get too much or too little Universal Credit, tell Universal Credit in your online account.
Can I get Universal Credit paid more often than monthly?
You can ask to have your Universal Credit paid differently if you need help managing a single monthly payment. This is called an alternative payment arrangement, and it could mean you receive payments twice a month instead of once a month. In Scotland you can get paid once or twice a month. In Northern Ireland Universal Credit is normally paid to a household twice a month.
Know Your Rights UK. "Universal Credit Payment Dates 2026: When Will I Get Paid?." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/universal-credit/payment-dates