Thousands of people on certain benefits will receive a happy one-off Christmas bonus payment over the next few weeks thanks to the Department of Work and Pensions. The one-off cash sum of £10 will be paid directly into the bank accounts of those who qualify.
The DWP says that people do not need to claim the bonus and that it should be paid automatically. The bonus is normally paid during the first full week of December.
The Christmas Bonus is on top of normal benefits and separate from the cost of living support measures. It will be more important than ever this year for struggling families worrying about how they are going to afford Christmas.
Read more: Pensioners' boosted Winter Fuel Payments start to be paid out today - here's how much you could get
How much is the Christmas bonus?
For those who are eligible, the Christmas bonus is a one-off payment of £10.
Who qualifies for the DWP Christmas bonus?
To get the Christmas bonus, the Government says you must be "present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week".
The qualifying week is normally classed as the first full week in December, which this year falls from December 5 to December 11. You must also be in receipt of these benefits during that 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
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. Those who believe they qualify and don't receive the payment should contact their nearest Jobcentre Plus or The Pension Service.
If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, you can each receive the Christmas Bonus - as long as you’re getting one of the qualifying benefits.
But if one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, as long as they meet both of the following requirements:
- You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
- Your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week
And either:
- You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
- The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit
When will the Christmas bonus be paid?
The Government says that the one-off payment of £10 is due at the start of December, with most having normally received it by the first full week of December. The payment may show up on your bank statement as "DWP XB".
Read next:
-
Universal Credit, PIP, ESA and all other DWP benefit rises coming in 2023
-
Martin Lewis says Ofgem price cap rise is 'almost totally meaningless' for energy bills
-
Martin Lewis reveals 50p Tesco trick to extend the lifespan of Clubcard vouchers
-
Expert urges households to avoid five heating 'myths' to keep bills down this winter
