The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has began paying out its annual Christmas bonus to millions of people claiming certain benefits.
The bonus, worth £10, is paid to people on certain benefits including Pension Credit and Personal Independence Payment. However, if the cash had kept up with inflation, it would be worth £115.76 today.
Writing on X/Twitter, one person said: “Merry Christmas everyone just received my £10 DWP carers bonus will be careful not to spend it all at once.”
Another shared: “Just received my Pensioners Christmas Bonus from the DWP £10. Wow. Not ungrateful, but it probably costs more to administer than the actual benefit.”
A third person added: “So excited- I got my £10 DWP Christmas bonus in my account this am! It’ll buy me a hot water bottle to keep me warm this winter.”, reports the Mirror.
This Christmas bonus was introduced back in 1972 and has never been permanently raised since. It was briefly increased to £70 in 2008 to support people during the financial crash but it went back down to £10 the following year.
Recipients should expect the bonus to arrive automatically into their accounts, identified typically as “DWP XB” on bank statements. This tax-free payment remains uninfluential on other benefits claimed and is expected to be disbursed by January 1 at the latest.
On GOV.UK, it says you have to be in receipt of one of following benefits in the “qualifying week” – which is usually the first full week of December – to get the Christmas bonus:
According to GOV. UK, to be eligible for the Christmas bonus, you must be receiving one of the following benefits during the “qualifying week” – typically the first full week of December:
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
Additionally, you must be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. For couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting, both individuals may be able to receive the Christmas bonus.
Both individuals need to be claiming one of the qualifying benefits. Even if one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, provided they meet both of the following criteria: Both are over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week and the 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.
Additionally, either of the following conditions must be met: The individual is entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for their partner or civil partner, or the only qualifying benefit they’re receiving is Pension Credit.