Thousands of Brits will receive a one-off Christmas cash bonus over the next few weeks - if they claim certain benefits.
Those who do qualify will receive £10 automatically into their bank accounts.
The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) says you shouldn't need to put in a claim for the bonus.
But the £10 - which comes in the middle of a growing cost of living crisis - has been labelled "a joke" by some families.
Here, we explain everything you need to know, including who gets the payment and when it will be sent.
Is £10 enough to help families this winter? Let us know your thoughts: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Who qualifies for the Christmas bonus?
Brits who receive benefits in the "qualifying week" - which is usually the first full week of December - will receive the bonus.
They must also be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
Those who get one of the following benefits in the "qualifying week" will receive the £10:
- 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
The DWP says those who haven’t claimed their State Pension, and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, will not receive the bonus.
Those who believe they qualify and don't receive the payment should contact their nearest Jobcentre Plus or The Pension Service.
If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, you can each receive the Christmas Bonus - as long as you’re getting one of the qualifying benefits.
But if one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, as long as they meet both of the following requirements:
- You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
- 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:
- You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
- The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit
When will the Christmas bonus be paid?
The DWP hasn't officially given a date for when the Christmas bonus will be paid.
However, last year some people started receiving it from the start of December - so it is likely to be around this time again.
The Christmas payment may show up as "DWP XB" on your bank statement.
