The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the full list of people eligible for the Christmas Bonus payment in 2026. Millions of people will receive the small financial boost in December, which aims to take the pressure off the festive season.
The annual £10 payment is made before Christmas, but only to those who claim qualifying benefits. These include Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer's Allowance and Pension Credit.
Those who are eligible should receive the payment automatically. The DWP has confirmed who is eligible for the payment and when it is likely to land in your bank account.
Eligibility and the qualifying week
Eligibility is strictly determined by whether an individual receives a qualifying benefit during a specific qualifying week. This crucial week is typically defined by the DWP as the first full week in December.
To receive the Christmas Bonus, you must be present or be an "ordinarily resident" of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
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. If you get more than one Christmas Bonus sent to your bank account, you should contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments, or the Pension Service. It will not affect any other benefits you get.
List of qualifying benefits
You must get 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 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
Five-letter bank account code to look for
DWP said: "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 you'll each get a Christmas Bonus payment."
If you are unsure whether you have received the payment, the DWP advises that you check your bank account and look for 'DWP XB' - it should appear with this code.
