9th December 2025
Make sure you are getting all the support you are entitled to this festive season
With the Christmas holidays almost upon us, for many working parents this is a time of year that requires some careful planning to ensure all the bills are still paid when they should be. This can particularly be a strain for parents who use a childcare provider who may need to be paid earlier than usual in the month.
Many parents work over the Christmas and New Year period, but many childcare providers close for more than just the bank holidays, this can put additional pressure on families who often have to use friends and family to look after children.
Check your payment dates
When a benefit payment is scheduled to fall on a bank holiday, it is instead issued on the previous working day. If you are due to receive your payment of Universal Credit or any other benefits on Thursday 25 or Friday 26 December 2025 these will be paid on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025. If you are due to receive a payment on New Years Day, Thursday 1 January 2026, this will instead be paid on 31 December.
While all benefits operate on different payment systems, you will not receive your payment later than the day it would normally be due.
If you are making payments to a childcare provider through Tax-Free Childcare or Childcare Vouchers ensure that you pay into the account on time to ensure the payment can be processed to reach the childcare provider when they are expecting it.
For example, Employers For Childcare – Childcare Voucher payments need to be processed by 12 noon on Monday 22 December to ensure that the childcare provider receives the payment into their bank account before Christmas.
Find out what financial support is available
There is help available with the cost of registered childcare, which can include some holiday schemes (provided they are registered childcare) as well as year-round providers such as registered childminders, out of school clubs and day nurseries. For example, parents may be able to use Universal Credit, Childcare Vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare and the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme or to help pay for childcare during school holidays. Now is a good time to make sure your family is receiving all the financial support you are entitled to.
Finding suitable childcare
The Family Support NI website www.familysupportni.gov.uk is a useful resource for families looking for registered childcare and includes a search function for all registered childcare providers across Northern Ireland, including holiday schemes.