December 2025 brings a few adjusted payment dates for government benefits and pensions due to Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year bank holidays, with most programs moving impacted deposits to the previous working day. Recipients in the UK, US, and Canada should check their specific program calendars and expect earlier payments where the regular date falls on a holiday or weekend.​

UK benefits and pensions

In the UK, when a benefit or State Pension payment date falls on a bank holiday, it is usually paid on the working day before, which applies around Christmas and New Year. For December 2025, payments due on Thursday 25 December or Friday 26 December are generally brought forward to Wednesday 24 December, and payments due on Thursday 1 January 2026 shift to Wednesday 31 December 2025. Child Benefit has separate bank holiday arrangements, with specific late-December adjustments for Northern Ireland listed on GOV.UK.​

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Scotland-specific notes

Social Security Scotland also advances payments that would otherwise land on bank holidays, with guidance indicating early disbursements before 26 December 2025 and 1–2 January 2026 closures. Claimants should verify exact dates in their online account or award letters to confirm when deposits will clear.​

US Social Security and SSI

In the United States, Social Security retirement and disability benefits are issued on Wednesdays according to birthdate groups in December 2025: the 10th (birthdays 1–10), the 17th (11–20), and the 24th (21–31). Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on December 1 for the month of December, and due to the January 1 holiday, the January SSI benefit is paid early on Wednesday, December 31, resulting in two SSI payments posting in December.​

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Canada OAS and CPP

Canada’s Old Age Security (OAS) payment amounts were adjusted for the October–December 2025 quarter based on CPI indexation, and federal calendars list monthly dates for OAS and CPP near month-end. Beneficiaries should confirm December 2025 deposit days on the official federal benefits calendar and ensure direct deposit details are current to avoid seasonal mail or banking delays.​

Holiday timing tips

• Check the official payment calendar for your program and region; many December dates shift earlier due to bank holidays. Use government portals such as GOV.UK, SSA, and Canada.ca for authoritative schedules.​

  

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• Expect earlier deposits if your normal date is December 25, December 26, or January 1; watch for a move to December 24 or December 31 where applicable.​

• If a payment is late, agencies advise waiting a few mailing days before contacting support, especially around holidays when banks process more slowly.​

Key December 2025 dates table

| Program/Region | Standard rule | December 2025 adjusted dates | Source |
| UK DWP benefits/State Pension | Pay earlier if date falls on a bank holiday | 25–26 Dec payments move to 24 Dec; 1 Jan moves to 31 Dec | ​ |
| UK Child Benefit | Separate bank holiday rules | NI-specific shifts Dec 29–30; check GOV.UK page | ​ |
| Scotland benefits | Early payment before holidays | Early issues before 26 Dec; 1–2 Jan shifted | ​ |
| US Social Security | Paid Wednesdays by birthdate | Dec 10, 17, 24 | ​ |
| US SSI | 1st of month; early if holiday | Dec 1 for Dec; Dec 31 pays Jan SSI | ​ |
| Canada OAS/CPP | Government calendar near month-end | Confirm specific December dates on Canada.ca | ​ |

Cost of living support notes

UK cost of living payments are not issued monthly and follow separate eligibility windows; December changes mainly reflect earlier disbursement of regular benefits due to bank holidays rather than new lump-sum support. Official guidance emphasizes that payment day shifts are routine holiday adjustments rather than additional entitlements.​

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How to prepare

Verify bank details and mailing addresses in your online benefit accounts before mid-December to prevent delays. Government portals provide secure access for updates and statements.​

Review your program’s December calendar and note any earlier payment days to manage bills around Christmas and New Year. Keep an eye on account notifications from agencies.​

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FAQs

Q1: Will my UK benefit arrive early if my date is December 25?

Yes, payments due on Christmas Day typically arrive on December 24 in 2025 under bank holiday rules.​

Q2: Do SSI recipients in the US get two payments in December 2025?

Yes, December 1 covers December, and December 31 covers January’s SSI due to the New Year holiday.​

Q3: How do I confirm Canada OAS/CPP December dates?

Check the federal benefits payment calendar on Canada.ca and your My Service Canada account for exact December posting days.​