The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will soon be handing out some extra cash before Christmas.
The one-off tax-free payment of £10 is usually handed out during the first full week of December. Unlike some other payment schemes run by the DWP, the Christmas bonus will be handed out automatically - as long as you reach the criteria.
The DWP will issue the Christmas bonus as a separate payment and it will have no effect on any benefits the recipient is claiming at the time. However, it's important to note that because of this you may receive the Christmas bonus at a different date than any other benefits.
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Here's a breakdown of who is eligible for the Christmas bonus this year, according to the DWP.
Who is eligible for the Christmas bonus?
In order to get a Christmas bonus you must first and foremost be present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week - generally the first full week of December.
You must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit - guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension Age
- War Widow's Pension
- Widowed Mother's Allowance
- Widowed Parent's Allowance
- Widow's Pension
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