Benefit claimants are being urged to keep an eye on their bank accounts next week as they could be in line for a Christmas bonus.
People on certain benefits will receive an extra £10 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with costs over the festive season. The Christmas Bonus is on top of normal benefits and separate from cost of living support measures which have been announced by the Government.
And it will be more important than ever this year for struggling families worrying about how they are going to afford Christmas while paying their bills. The Government says the tax-free £10 payment should enter bank accounts of those who are eligible during the first week of December.
Read More: Universal Credit, PIP, ESA and all other DWP benefit rises coming in 2023
Most people on Universal Credit should get the Christmas Bonus - but people who just get Universal Credit and no other benefits will not, reports Birmingham Live. People do not need to do anything to get the cash, it should arrive automatically.
The Government says: "The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically."
To be eligible, you must receive one of the following benefits:
- 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
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