Millions of Britons on certain benefits are set to receive a little extra help in time for the festive season with the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) annual Christmas Bonus. Here’s your complete guide to what’s coming in 2025.
What is the DWP Christmas Bonus?
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 designed to provide a small financial boost to those who need it most during the holidays. While the sum has remained unchanged for decades, it is a welcomed addition for recipients, often going towards festive treats or winter essentials.
Who is eligible for the £10 payment?
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 to receive the bonus. Crucially, you must also be receiving at least one of the following qualifying benefits during that same week:
- State Pension
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Mobility Supplement
- Pensioner’s Christmas Bonus
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
If you are part of a married couple, civil partnership, or both receiving a qualifying benefit, you will each get the £10 payment.
When will the Christmas Bonus be paid in 2025?
The payment is typically made automatically in the first full week of December. For 2025, recipients can expect the £10 to land in their accounts from the beginning of December. No need to apply; if you're eligible, the payment will be made directly into the same account your benefits are paid into.
What if I don't receive my payment?
If you believe you are eligible but haven't received your bonus by mid-December, you should contact the office that handles your benefits. For most, this will be the Pension Service or your local Jobcentre Plus office.
This small but symbolic payment continues to be a staple of the UK's welfare support system, offering a gesture of support to pensioners, carers, and individuals with disabilities during the winter months.
