If you receive Housing Benefit and you rent from a private landlord or Housing Association, Housing Benefit payments are made on a Friday by either BACS or cheque.

BACS payments should normally be received in your bank account the following Tuesday (or Wednesday if a bank holiday week). Cheques should be received within a few days of being sent out.

The normal payment dates for Housing Benefit if you rent from a private landlord or Housing Association for 2023 - 2024 are as follows: Please note, bank holidays will delay your payment being credited to your bank account.

• 25.04.23
• 23.05.23
• 20.06.23
• 18.07.23
• 15.08.23
• 12.09.23
• 10.10.23
• 07.11.23
• 05.12.23
• 03.01.24
• 30.01.24
• 27.02.24
• 26.03.24

If you rent from the Council, your Housing Benefit will be credited directly to your rent account. If you have any queries on how much rent to pay please contact your Housing Officer.

If you receive Council Tax Reduction, your payment will be credited directly to your Council Tax account. You will then receive a revised bill showing what amounts you need to pay and the dates you need to pay.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit helpline number is 0800 328 5644

Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is paid every four weeks on the same day of the week, and is never arranged to fall on a weekend.

The PIP helpline number is 0800 121 4433

Child Benefit

Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday

The Child Benefit helpline number is 0300 200 3100

Tax Credits

Tax credit payments are made on a weekday, either every week or every four weeks

​The Tax Credits helpline number is 0345 300 3900.

Changes to payments to Post Office card accounts

Press release - Post Office card accounts closure extended until November 2022

Post Office Card Accounts are to be extended for another year in order to safely move existing users over to traditional bank accounts or a new Payment Exception Service

Benefit payments to Post Office card accounts will stop on 30 November 2021. If you still have your benefits paid into a post office card account, you must contact the Department of Work and Pensions and arrange for your benefits to be transferred to a bank account, building society account or credit union account. 

Telephone: 0800 085 7133
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

If you do not have a bank account, building society account or credit union account you must open one to be able to receive your benefits.  Most banks now offer basic bank accounts.