DWP announce major Universal Credit and benefit services change 'from next week' (Image: John Myers)

DWP announce major Universal Credit and benefit services change 'from next week'

The DWP is making a change to benefits payment dates ahead of Christmas, due to the bank holiday breaks interrupting normal payment schedules.

by · Birmingham Live

The Department for Work and Pensions will make a major change to Universal Credit from next week. The DWP is making a change to benefits payment dates ahead of Christmas, due to the bank holiday breaks interrupting normal payment schedules.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is also changing the opening hours of certain phone lines and closing local Jobcentre Plus offices on selected days. All Jobcentre Plus outlets will shut on the following days: Monday, December 25, 2023, Tuesday, December 26, 2023 and Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (Jobcentres in Scotland will be open as normal).

They'll also be closed up on Monday, January 1, 2024, too, the government department has said. Phone lines are open between December 22 and January 2, but they will be operating at reduced hours and will close at 4pm instead of the usual 6 pm cut-off.

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In Scotland, offices are open as usual. Phone lines are open until 4pm on Friday 22 December 2023. Offices and phone lines are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day on DFecember 25 2023 and December 26 2023. On Wednesday December 27 2023, offices are open as usual. Phone lines are open until 4pm.

Offices are open as usual with phone lines are open until 4pm on Thursday 28 December 2023 and Friday 29 December 2023. Offices and phone lines are closed on New Year's Day on Monday January 1 2024, and on Tuesday January 2 2024, offices are closed. Phone lines are open until 4pm.

"There are changes to Jobcentre Plus opening times over Christmas and New Year," the DWP has warned online. You can change or cancel a Universal Credit appointment by signing in to your Universal Credit account. Call 0800 169 0190 to change or cancel appointments if you prefer using the phone, the DWP says.