When will your benefit be paid? Official UK payment dates, worked out for you.

Income Support payment dates

When your Income Support will be paid in 2026 and 2027 — including bank holidays and Christmas.

Last updated: 10 November 2026 · Data: GOV.UK

Income Support is usually paid every 2 weeks into your bank, building society or credit union account. Check your award letter to confirm your own payment day and cycle.

Income Support is closed to new claims and most people still receiving it are being moved to Universal Credit. If your payment date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, you'll usually be paid on the working day before.

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 Income Support 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 onBank holidayYou will usually be paid on
Thursday 1 January 2026New Year's DayWednesday 31 December 2025
Friday 3 April 2026Good FridayThursday 2 April 2026
Monday 6 April 2026Easter MondayThursday 2 April 2026
Monday 4 May 2026Early May bank holidayFriday 1 May 2026
Monday 25 May 2026Spring bank holidayFriday 22 May 2026
Monday 31 August 2026Summer bank holidayFriday 28 August 2026
Friday 25 December 2026Christmas DayThursday 24 December 2026
Monday 28 December 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)Thursday 24 December 2026
Friday 1 January 2027New Year's DayThursday 31 December 2026
Friday 26 March 2027Good FridayThursday 25 March 2027
Monday 29 March 2027Easter MondayThursday 25 March 2027
Monday 3 May 2027Early May bank holidayFriday 30 April 2027
Monday 31 May 2027Spring bank holidayFriday 28 May 2027
Monday 30 August 2027Summer bank holidayFriday 27 August 2027
Monday 27 December 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)Friday 24 December 2027
Tuesday 28 December 2027Boxing Day (substitute day)Friday 24 December 2027

Scotland

If your payment is due onBank holidayYou will usually be paid on
Thursday 1 January 2026New Year's DayWednesday 31 December 2025
Friday 2 January 20262nd JanuaryWednesday 31 December 2025
Friday 3 April 2026Good FridayThursday 2 April 2026
Monday 4 May 2026Early May bank holidayFriday 1 May 2026
Monday 25 May 2026Spring bank holidayFriday 22 May 2026
Monday 15 June 2026World Cup bank holidayFriday 12 June 2026
Monday 3 August 2026Summer bank holidayFriday 31 July 2026
Monday 30 November 2026St Andrew's DayFriday 27 November 2026
Friday 25 December 2026Christmas DayThursday 24 December 2026
Monday 28 December 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)Thursday 24 December 2026
Friday 1 January 2027New Year's DayThursday 31 December 2026
Monday 4 January 20272nd January (substitute day)Thursday 31 December 2026
Friday 26 March 2027Good FridayThursday 25 March 2027
Monday 3 May 2027Early May bank holidayFriday 30 April 2027
Monday 31 May 2027Spring bank holidayFriday 28 May 2027
Monday 2 August 2027Summer bank holidayFriday 30 July 2027
Tuesday 30 November 2027St Andrew's DayMonday 29 November 2027
Monday 27 December 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)Friday 24 December 2027
Tuesday 28 December 2027Boxing Day (substitute day)Friday 24 December 2027

Northern Ireland

If your payment is due onBank holidayYou will usually be paid on
Thursday 1 January 2026New Year's DayWednesday 31 December 2025
Tuesday 17 March 2026St Patrick's DayMonday 16 March 2026
Friday 3 April 2026Good FridayThursday 2 April 2026
Monday 6 April 2026Easter MondayThursday 2 April 2026
Monday 4 May 2026Early May bank holidayFriday 1 May 2026
Monday 25 May 2026Spring bank holidayFriday 22 May 2026
Monday 13 July 2026Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) (substitute day)Friday 10 July 2026
Monday 31 August 2026Summer bank holidayFriday 28 August 2026
Friday 25 December 2026Christmas DayThursday 24 December 2026
Monday 28 December 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)Thursday 24 December 2026
Friday 1 January 2027New Year's DayThursday 31 December 2026
Wednesday 17 March 2027St Patrick's DayTuesday 16 March 2027
Friday 26 March 2027Good FridayThursday 25 March 2027
Monday 29 March 2027Easter MondayThursday 25 March 2027
Monday 3 May 2027Early May bank holidayFriday 30 April 2027
Monday 31 May 2027Spring bank holidayFriday 28 May 2027
Monday 12 July 2027Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day)Friday 9 July 2027
Monday 30 August 2027Summer bank holidayFriday 27 August 2027
Monday 27 December 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)Friday 24 December 2027
Tuesday 28 December 2027Boxing 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

How often is Income Support paid?

Usually every 2 weeks. Your award letter confirms your exact payment day — if it differs, follow the letter.

Can I still claim Income Support?

No — Income Support is closed to new claims. If you're on a low income and need help with living costs, you can apply for Universal Credit instead (GOV.UK).

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.

Official information: GOV.UK — Income Support. General payment rules: GOV.UK — How and when your benefits are paid.