A large number of benefits claimants are set to miss out on this year's Christmas bonus despite soaring costs of living. Around 22 million people in the UK are estimated to be claiming some form of benefits, according to recent statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The government has rolled out financial support to help those hardest hit by the cost crisis in recent months including a cost of living payment worth £650 to people on means-tested benefits - the second instalment began hitting bank accounts this week - as well as a £150 payment for people claiming disability payments such as PIP and DLA.
As well as their usual monthly payments, millions of claimants will also receive a £10 Christmas bonus. The scheme has run for several years and sees a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of state pension or certain DWP benefits if they meet the eligibility during a specific qualifying period, typically the first full week of December.
But the criteria for the bonus means some claimants are likely to miss out. People who claim universal credit alone, and none of the below benefits, are not eligible and will not receive the Christmas bonus.
Read more: Millions of benefits claimants won’t get the £324 cost of living payment
Who is eligible for the 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. 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 Iindustrial 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
You must be claiming one of these benefits in order to get the bonus. This means many people, including those who claim universal credit and none of the above payments, are not eligible and will not receive the Christmas bonus.
How do I get the Christmas bonus?
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. 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. No date has been set for the payment yet but it is likely to be in early December. 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. Find out more about the Christmas Bonus on GOV.UK here.
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