Millions of people across the UK are set to receive a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in December. The Christmas Bonus is paid automatically to those receiving certain benefits, with no claim required.
The money is deposited into the same account where benefits, pensions or allowances are normally paid. On bank statements, the payment can be identified by the reference ‘DWP XB’.
Who receives the payment
Individuals who are married, in a civil partnership or living together as though married will each receive their own bonus, provided both receive a qualifying benefit. If a partner or civil partner does not receive a qualifying benefit, they may still be eligible if both are over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, usually the first full week of December, and the partner was present in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during that week.
In such cases, either the claimant must be entitled to an increase in a qualifying benefit for their partner or civil partner, or the only qualifying benefit received must be Pension Credit.
What to do if the payment does not arrive
Although no claim is needed, payment errors can sometimes occur. If the money has not arrived by January 1, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with the payments or the Pension Service. The same applies if more than one Christmas Bonus is received. The payment does not affect any other benefits.
Full list of qualifying benefits
To be eligible, a person must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar while receiving at least one of the following benefits in the qualifying week:
- 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 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
The £10 Christmas Bonus is intended to provide extra financial support to eligible households during the festive period, with payments made automatically in December.
