In several weeks’ time, many people in certain DWP benefits will receive the bonus payment
Later this year, millions of people on various Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits will receive a one-off bonus payment. In December, many people across the UK will get a pleasant surprise when opening their bank statements to see they have been sent £10—in time for Christmas 2025.
The DWP gives a one-time Christmas Bonus of £10 to those on eligible benefits, like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance, in the first full week of December. You don’t have to apply for this tax-free payment; it’s automatically deposited into your regular bank account, usually showing up as “DWP XB”.
A statement on Gov.uk explains: “The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim – you should get paid automatically.”
Who is eligible?
To receive the Christmas Bonus, you must be ordinarily resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. You must also be receiving at least one of the qualifying benefits during the specified qualifying week, which is typically the first several days of December.
You must be in the UK (or an associated territory) during the qualifying week. You must also be receiving a qualifying benefit, such as the following.
- 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
If you’re married, in a civil partnership, or living together as if you are and you both get one of the qualifying benefits, you’ll each receive a Christmas Bonus payment. If your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus.
This will only apply, though if you’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, and 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.
One of the following must also apply: you’re 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
How and when it’s paid:
The £10 bonus is paid automatically into your bank account, so you won’t need to do anything. It will be a separate payment from your usual benefit. It will likely appear on your bank statement as “DWP XB”. The payment is usually made in the first week of December.
What if you don’t receive it?
When December arrives, check your statement and ensure you have checked your bank statement carefully for the “DWP XB” code. If you haven’t received it by January 1, 2026, contact DWP, the Jobcentre Plus office that handles your payments, or the Pension Service. You can also reach out if you believe you are entitled to it but haven’t received it.