13 November 2023 , 10:31
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives out a Christmas bonus every year to those claiming certain benefits.
The bonus is a payment of £10 and is usually paid in early December. The aim of the payment is to help people with added costs during the festive period - but the payment has received a lot of criticism over the years as it has not been uprated. Benefit claimants have previously slammed the small amount as "ludicrous" and "a joke" in the face of rising costs.
The one-off, tax-free bonus was first introduced as part of the Pensioners’ and Family Income Supplement Payments Act in 1972. The bonus has stayed at £10 since it was introduced five decades ago except in 2008, when it was temporarily increased to £70 to support people during the financial crash.
Is £10 enough to help families this winter? Let us know your thoughts: [email protected]
Who can get the Christmas Bonus?
The DWP will once again pay the cash this year to people who live or are a "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar receiving one of the qualifying benefits. According to the DWP website, these include:
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- 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
You should be aware that Universal Credit is not included on the list of eligibility benefits for the Christmas Bonus. The DWP also 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 part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together as such and you both get one of the qualifying benefits, you will 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 of 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
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
You will need to be claiming your benefits during the qualifying week in order to get the bonus. This is usually the first full week of December.
When will I receive the bonus?
According to the DWP website, the £10 will arrive in bank accounts before Christmas and those eligible should get it automatically. So you do not need to claim it. It usually is paid into the bank account where you get your normal benefits paid and normally shows up as "DWP XB" on your bank statement.
The DWP hasn't officially given a date for when the Christmas bonus will be paid for this year. However, last year some people started receiving it from the start of December - so it is likely to be around this time again.
If you think you are eligible for the bonus but don't get it this year, DWP guidance suggests contacting the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments, or the pension service.