The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has started distributing its annual Christmas bonus to millions of eligible people who receive benefits such as Pension Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The token £10 sum, unchanged from its inception in 1972, has never been permanently raised.
Although it was briefly raised to £70 in 2008 to support people during the financial crash, it was reverted back to £10 the following year. To qualify, the Government states that you need to be in receipt of an eligible benefit in the ‘qualifying week’, usually the first full week of December.
Eligible individuals should then automatically receive the bonus in bank accounts by January 1 at the latest, marked as “DWP XB” on statements. It’s tax-free and will not impact other benefits entitlements, according to the Mirror.
The Government’s full list of qualifying benefits is below:
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Adult Disability Payment
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Armed Forces Independence Payment
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Attendance Allowance
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Carer’s Allowance
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Child Disability Payment
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Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
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Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
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Disability Living Allowance
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Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
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Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
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Mobility Supplement
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Pension Credit – the guarantee element
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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
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State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
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Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
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Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
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War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
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War Widow’s Pension
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Widowed Mother’s Allowance
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Widowed Parent’s Allowance
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Widow’s Pension
Beyond this, 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 receive the Christmas bonus.
Both partners need to be claiming one of the qualifying benefits, according to the Mirror. However, if one partner isn’t receiving one of these benefits, they could still be eligible for the payment, provided they meet two specific requirements:
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You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
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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:
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You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
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The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit