The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay a Christmas bonus from this week to millions of people claiming benefits – here is how much you will get and who is eligible
What you need to know about DWP Christmas bonus
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay a Christmas bonus worth £10 to people claiming the state pension and certain benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Pension Credit.
- The payment has been previously described by Mirror readers as an “insult” following rising bills and the cost of living crisis. It was launched by the DWP in 1972 and would be worth £119 now if had kept up with inflation.
- The DWP normally pays the Christmas bonus in the first week of December and it is sent automatically to everyone who is eligible. It should show as “DWP XB” on your bank statement.
- The money is tax-free, and does not affect any of your other benefits. If you have not received it by January, you should contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.
- As well as claiming one of the qualifying benefits, you must also be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar. This means you normally live here.
- If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, it is possible for both of you to get the Christmas bonus. You normally have to both be claiming an eligible benefit.
- If your partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas bonus if you’re both over state pension age. The state pension age is currently 66 for both men and women.
- One of the following must also apply: You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner, or the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit.
Full list of benefits eligible for DWP Christmas bonus
- 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
- READ THE FULL STORY: DWP Christmas bonus payment being sent to bank accounts in December
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
