The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun issuing the annual £10 Christmas bonus to eligible benefit claimants. The tax-free payment is made automatically before Christmas to those receiving qualifying benefits, including carer’s allowance, personal independence payment (PIP), and pension credit. However, individuals claiming universal credit as a standalone benefit are not eligible.
To qualify, claimants must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit during the first full week of December, known as the qualifying week, and be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. Couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting may each receive a payment if both meet the criteria. The payment typically appears in bank accounts with the reference ‘XB’ or ‘DWP XB’.
The £10 bonus has remained unchanged since 1972, leading to calls for an increase. Adjusted for inflation, the sum would now be worth over £110. The government has not announced any plans to raise the amount.
For the 2024 festive period, DWP payments due on Christmas Day (25 December) or Boxing Day (26 December) are expected to be paid on Christmas Eve (24 December) instead, subject to final confirmation from the department, usually announced in December.
