Thousands of benefit claimants have started receiving their Christmas bonus from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The annual £10 payment is made automatically before Christmas to those receiving qualifying benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). However, Universal Credit claimants are not eligible unless they also receive another qualifying benefit.
According to government guidance, the Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free payment of £10 made before Christmas to people who receive certain benefits during the qualifying week, which is normally the first full week of December. Eligible claimants must be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. The payment is automatic and does not require a claim.
The £10 bonus has remained unchanged since 1972, leading to calls for an increase. Adjusted for inflation, the payment would be worth over £100 today. The government has not announced any plans to change the amount.
Claimants should note that most DWP payments due on Christmas Day or Boxing Day will be paid on Christmas Eve instead. This is subject to final confirmation, usually announced in December.
