Figures shared by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in February there were 22 million people across the UK claiming at least one benefit. That number includes nearly 12.5 million older people now in receipt of State Pension payments, a contributory benefit only available to those of retirement age with at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions.
However, many people may not be aware of an annual bonus paid to those on certain benefits before Christmas. This is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of State Pension or 20 DWP benefits if they meet the eligibility during a specific qualifying period, which is typically the first full week of December - which falls this week.
It’s worth noting that the DWP will make this as a separate payment, independent of your usual one, so it may arrive on a different day. People in Scotland claiming the new Adult Disability Payment will also be eligible for the payment this year.
Nobody needs to claim the extra £10 as it should automatically go into the account where you usually receive your benefit payments or state Pension and will show as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.
Who is eligible for the £10 Christmas Bonus?
To qualify for the Christmas Bonus you must be living in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland during the qualifying week, which this year is expected to be December 5 - 11.
The DWP will write to eligible claimants advising them that they will be receiving the £10 bonus early in December. However, this letter may arrive after the payment has been made.
You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the qualifying week:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
Not everyone over State Pension age will get the payment, DWP explains: “If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus.”
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together and you both get one of the qualifying benefits you will each get a Christmas Bonus payment.
How to claim
You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically.
If you think you should get it, but do not receive it in December, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.
Find out more about the Christmas Bonus on GOV.UK here.
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