The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay a one-off, tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus in December 2026 to households across the UK claiming any of 24 qualifying benefits, including the State Pension, Carer's Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Pension Credit.
The £10 payment was first introduced by the UK Government in 1972 and has been awarded to people claiming certain benefits ever since, but it has never increased in line with inflation. Those eligible for the bonus in December 2026 will receive the same amount as those who have received it over the past 50 years.
Automatic Payment and Qualifying Week
The £10 bonus will automatically be paid into bank accounts by the DWP if you get one of the qualifying benefits, so households do not need to apply or make a claim. The payment is normally issued by the DWP in the first full week of December, meaning those who qualify will get the bonus in time for Christmas.
The tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus will be paid to those who are eligible by the DWP in the 'qualifying week' next month.
Full List of 24 Qualifying Benefits
Criteria set out by the DWP states that you'll be eligible to get the Christmas bonus if you get at least one of the following 24 benefits in the 'qualifying week', which is normally the first full week of December:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- 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 Age Disability Payment
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- 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
You must also be present, or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week to get the payment.
Couples and Eligibility Rules
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership, or living together as if you are, and you both get one of the qualifying benefits, then you will each get a Christmas Bonus payment from the DWP. If your partner doesn’t get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment if both of the following apply:
- 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
You must also be entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner, or the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit.
The DWP said: “If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus. You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically. If you think you should get it, but have not by 1 January, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.”
The Christmas bonus will normally be paid into the same bank account as pension or other benefits, and will have the payment reference 'DWP XB' on your bank statement.
