As the festive season gets into full swing, many people will be relying on benefits and extra payments to help them through Christmas and beyond.
One added benefit is the Christmas bonus delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This one-off payment will be administered to roughly 20 million benefit claimants.
So, how will you know if you are entitled to the DWP Christmas bonus? Here, we have collated a handy guide on eligibility criteria, when it will be paid and how you can claim it.
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What is the Christmas Bonus?
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.
How do I claim the Christmas Bonus?
You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically. If you think you should get it, but have not, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.
How will the bonus be paid, and how much is it worth?
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off payment of £10. It will not affect any other benefits you get.
All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as your bank account. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.
Who is eligible for the Christmas Bonus?
To get a Christmas Bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally 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
If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not get a Christmas Bonus.
When will the Christmas Bonus be paid?
There is no set payment date for the Christmas Bonus, but you can contact the DWP if you feel you are missing the payment in your account.
Further information on the Christmas Bonus is available on the DWP website.
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