This money is the annual DWP Christmas bonus and it is paid to people in receipt of welfare payments such as Pension Credit and Personal Independence Payment
Millions of people claiming certain benefits are waking up to find they’ve been paid £10 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This money is the annual DWP Christmas bonus and it is paid to people in receipt of welfare payments such as Pension Credit and Personal Independence Payment. But if the Christmas bonus had kept up with inflation, it would be worth £115.76 today. Writing on X/ Twitter, one person commented: “We’ve just received the £10 Christmas bonus from the DWP – wow! It’s been at £10 since 1972.”
Another said: “Just received my Pensioners Christmas Bonus from the DWP £10. Wow. Not ungrateful, but it probably costs more to administer than the actual benefit.” A third person suggested: “If, like me, you just got your £10 Christmas bonus from the DWP and you don’t need it, why not give it to your local @age_uk branch? It’s never been more needed, especially in the cold weather. There’s an Age UK branch near you.”
Do you think the £10 Christmas bonus is enough? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
The DWP Christmas bonus was briefly increased to £70 in 2008 to support people during the financial crash but was reduced back to £10 the following year. If you’re entitled to the money, then it should appear in your bank account automatically as “DWP XB” – you won’t need to apply for it.
It is tax-free and does not affect any other benefits you’re claiming. If you’ve yet to receive it, the money should come through by January 1 at the latest. You have to be in receipt of one of following benefits in the “qualifying week” – which is usually the first full week of December – to get the Christmas bonus:
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Adult Disability Payment
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Armed Forces Independence Payment
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Attendance Allowance
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Carer’s Allowance
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Child Disability Payment
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Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
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Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
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Disability Living Allowance
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Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
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Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
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Mobility Supplement
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Pension Credit – the guarantee element
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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
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State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
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Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
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Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
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War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
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War Widow’s Pension
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Widowed Mother’s Allowance
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Widowed Parent’s Allowance
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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. If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, it is possible for both of you to get the Christmas bonus.
You each need to be claiming one of the qualifying benefits. If one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, as long as they meet both of the following requirements:
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You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
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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
And either:
