Around 5.7m people in the UK are estimated to be claiming universal credit. Both the UK and Welsh governments have intervened to offer extra support to those hardest hit by the cost of living crisis in recent months including a £324 cost of living payment to those on means-tested benefits next month – the second in a support payment worth £650.
UK councils have already sent a £150 cost of living payment to millions of households while people are also being offered hundreds of pounds off their energy bills this winter. As well as its existing financial support the UK Government will also be giving a bonus to universal credit claimants this Christmas.
Here is everything you need to know about the universal credit Christmas bonus for 2022 including how much you'll get, whether you qualify, and how you'll get the money.
Read more: All the DWP payment dates between now and Christmas including £324 cost of living payment
What is the Christmas bonus?
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, which is when you can expect to get your payment. The bonus is not only given to those in receipt of universal credit. It is also given to those in receipt of personal independence payments (PIP), jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit, and other payments.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
To get a Christmas bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland find out about benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’:
- Armed Forces independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child disability payment
- Constant attendance allowance
- 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
- 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.
How do I claim it?
You do not need to claim the Christmas bonus – you should get it automatically. If you think you should get it but have not contact the Jobcentre Plus office here or the pension service. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.
What else should I know?
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership, or living together as if you are and you both get one of the qualifying benefits you’ll each get a Christmas bonus payment. If your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits they may still get the Christmas bonus if both the following apply:
- 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
They'll get it if they also 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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