The DWP has kicked off its seasonal payments, so if you’re eligible, you might be one of the thousands already seeing the bonus arrive.
Claimants need not apply for this annual £10 disbursement, as it is processed automatically ahead of Christmas; however, eligibility is restricted solely to those currently receiving designated qualifying benefits. Benefits such as Carer’s Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Pension Credit are included, but people who only receive Universal Credit do not qualify.
Guidance issued by the government explains that the Christmas Bonus is a one-off payment of £10, which is paid tax-free. It is provided to individuals who are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits. To be eligible, claimants must be receiving one of these benefits during the designated qualifying week before Christmas. This qualifying period is usually the first complete week of December each year. Eligible individuals do not need to submit a claim, as the payment is made automatically to those who qualify. When the money hits your account, it’ll likely be marked as ‘XB’ or ‘DWP XB’.
To qualify, individuals must be receiving one of the listed benefits during the first week of December and must also be ordinarily resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar.
Who Is Eligible For The DWP Christmas Bonus Payment?
Eligibility applies to individuals who are receiving any of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance,
- Adult Disability Payment,
- Armed Forces Independence Payment,
- Child Disability Payment,
- Carer Support Payment,
- Carer’s Allowance,
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim),
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes),
- Mobility Supplement,
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers),
- Disability Living Allowance,
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate,
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element,
- Pension Age Disability Payment,
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
- Mobility Supplement,
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers),
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate,
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected),
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA),
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit),
- War Widow’s Pension,
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age,
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes),
- Widow’s Pension,
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
This policy applies to couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or, under specific conditions, living together as if they were married. Provided that both partners independently claim one of the necessary qualifying benefits, the household is not restricted to a single bonus. Instead, each individual in the relationship is entitled to receive their own separate payment.
In recent years, the government has been asked to increase the bonus because the £10 amount has stayed the same since 1972.
When Will The DWP Christmas Bonus Be Paid?
Due to the impact of inflation over several decades, the real value of this money has effectively dropped by more than £100. As of now, however, there have been no official announcements regarding a change to the payment amount. Right now, there’s no sign that the government plans to change the amount.
There are also crucial dates to be aware of this Christmas, as the timing of benefit deposits will be adjusted to account for the bank holidays. This year, most DWP payments that would normally be due on Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, or Boxing Day, Friday 26 December, are expected to be paid earlier on Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December. This approach has been followed in previous years. However, the arrangement remains subject to final confirmation by the department, which is typically announced in December.