Millions of Britons on benefits are set to receive a little extra help from the government this festive season. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the annual, tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus is now being processed for eligible claimants.
This longstanding tradition is a small but welcome financial boost for those who need it most during the expensive winter period. The payment is made automatically to individuals receiving qualifying benefits, meaning most people won't need to lift a finger to claim it.
Who is eligible for the DWP Christmas Bonus?
The bonus is not a universal payment. To qualify, you must be present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, or a European Economic Area (EEA) country during the qualifying week. Crucially, you must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits during that same week:
- State Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
- War Disablement Pension
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
If you are part of a married couple, civil partnership, or live together as if you are, and both of you receive one of the qualifying benefits, you will each get the £10 bonus.
When will the Christmas Bonus be paid?
The DWP has designated a specific 'qualifying week' for the bonus, which is typically the first full week of December. For 2024, this is expected to be the week commencing Monday, December 2.
Payments will begin to land in accounts shortly after this date. The money should appear in your bank account automatically, and it will be listed as 'DWP XB' on your bank statement.
What if you don't receive it?
The payment is automatic for the vast majority of eligible claimants. However, if you believe you should have received the £10 Christmas Bonus but don't see it in your account by mid-December, your first point of contact should be the office that handles your primary benefit payments.
It's important to note that you cannot receive the bonus more than once in any one year. If you are eligible for it through more than one benefit, you will still only get a single £10 payment.
While the sum may seem modest, for many struggling with the cost of living, it represents a token of support during a financially challenging time of year.
