Thousands of Brits will receive a one-off cash bonus just in time for Christmas.
However, you’ll need to be on certain benefits to meet the eligibility requirements for the cash.
Those who qualify will receive a one-off £10 payment that is set to credit bank accounts at the start of December, The Mirror reports.
The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) says you do not need to claim for the bonus as the payment will be automatic. But only Brits who receive benefits in the "qualifying week" - which is usually the first full week of December - will receive the cash.
They must also be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week to receive the tax-free money. However, those who believe they qualify and receive nothing can contact the Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service.
Those who get one of the following benefits in the "qualifying week" will benefit from the £10:
- 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
The DWP says those who haven’t claimed their State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, will not receive the bonus. 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
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