An online petition urging the UK Government to increase the Department for Work and Pensions' annual £10 Christmas Bonus in line with inflation has garnered thousands of signatures, highlighting growing public discontent over the stagnant payment.
Petition Gains Momentum for Bonus Reform
More than 4,680 people have supported the petition, which demands that the tax-free £10 bonus, distributed to millions receiving State Pension or qualifying benefits, be adjusted for inflation. The petition, titled 'Adjust the £10 DWP Christmas Bonus introduced in 1972 to reflect inflation,' is hosted on the Petitions Parliament website. Once it reaches 10,000 signatures, it will require a written response from the UK Government, as reported by the Daily Record.
Historical Context and Current Value
The £10 Christmas Bonus was introduced in 1972 by Ted Heath's Conservative Government and has remained largely unchanged for over five decades. Petition organiser David Angus Kirkwood argues that if adjusted for inflation using the composite price index rate of 3 per cent from the Office for National Statistics, the payment would be equivalent to approximately £171 today. Kirkwood states, "In the early 1970s, £10 was a significant boost for those without income, to assist with the increased costs associated with Christmas time. It would have contributed towards heating and electricity bills, food and beverages or children's Christmas presents."
He further criticises the current value, noting, "In today's money, adjusted for inflation, it would be roughly equivalent to £180. Nowadays, £10 won't even cover a round of drinks, purchase a quality Christmas pudding or buy a box of decent Christmas crackers. Quite frankly, £10 is insulting."
Eligibility and Impact on Benefits Recipients
Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain receive at least one benefit, with the State Pension classified as a contributory benefit. Around 15 million of these individuals are eligible for the £10 Christmas Bonus, resulting in a UK Government expenditure of approximately £150 million annually. For the 2026/27 period, 24 benefits qualify for the payment, but notably, the 8.3 million people claiming Universal Credit are excluded.
Qualifying Benefits and Requirements
To receive the Christmas Bonus, individuals must be present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, typically the first full week of December. They must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits during that week:
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment (Scotland only)
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- 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 (Scotland only)
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- 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
It is important to note that not everyone over State Pension age receives the payment. DWP guidance on GOV.UK explains, "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."
Proposed Changes and Public Response
The petition suggests that the annual one-off sum should be granted exclusively to "British citizens, who have been claiming benefits for a minimum of six months." This proposal aims to target long-term recipients who may rely more heavily on such support. The growing number of signatures reflects broader concerns about the adequacy of benefits in the face of rising living costs and inflation pressures.
As the petition approaches the 10,000-signature threshold, it underscores a call for policy review to ensure that historical payments like the DWP Christmas Bonus keep pace with economic changes, providing meaningful assistance to vulnerable populations during the festive season.
