ESA and State Pension

I realise this forum is not for state pension enquiries but I cannot think where else to ask. If none of the moderators don't know the answer perhaps someone reading this will or can point me to where I can enquire.

So I received the invitation to claim my SP last Saturday and duly applied. Today I have received a confirmation from the DWP regarding the SP and they have given me my State Pension amount, basically it's the full new SP. My birthday is 27th December and they have confirmed that they will pay me £378.58 on 8th January for the period 27th December to 8th January and from then on every 4 weeks from 5th February. That much makes perfect sense and I understand it.

My ESA is currently paid on alternate Mondays and I have worked out that the last full fortnight before my birthday falls on Christmas Day. So the bit I am unsure about. Is ESA paid in arrears? If I am correct in this, does that mean that I will receive a final payment on 8th January to cover the final two weeks ESA plus an odd day for the difference between 25th December and my birthday on 27th?

I am just trying to work out if I am supposed to manage for a whole month on 13 days payment on 8th January, or if I will get I guess 15 days? ESA paid out on 8th January?

Any help, or pointing me in the right direction would be very much appreciated.

Thank you Gordon. After I posted my question I realised that as it's paid in arrears I will be up to date by the time my first partial pension payment is paid. So I am indeed expected to make that 13 days money (state pension that is) last for 28 days. Couldn't come at a better time of the year than Christmas when we are all paying out more than we usually do! But on the plus side, apart from PIP reviews I will finally be out of the clutches of the DWP regarding sickness benefits and will no longer need to have a terror of the brown envelope of doom.

I'm hoping I won't have need to ask more questions of this amazing forum, and that being the case I want to thank everyone here for all the invaluable help they have provided over the many years I have been a Benefits and Work member. I fully intend to keep paying my yearly subscription though as even if I don't need it I am hoping that 'every little helps' with enabling the good folks at Benefits and Work to keep doing the sterling work they do. I fear with these proposed WCA changes you are going to be needed even more in the future.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart x

hi
just to let you know you can be paid weekly, fortnightly, 4 week cycles. just ask. i know because i got my sp in february 2023 and i asked the question., i get paid fortnightly.