Petition Demands DWP Increase £10 Christmas Bonus to £171 for All Claimants
A petition urging the Department for Work and Pensions to significantly increase the Christmas Bonus payment for all claimants has gained substantial momentum, amassing thousands of signatures. The campaign calls for raising the current £10 bonus to £171, aligning it with inflation rates since its introduction in 1972.
Growing Public Support for Change
More than 4,800 individuals have signed the online petition, which pressures the Labour Party government to adjust the Christmas Bonus based on the composite price index inflation rate of 3 percent, as reported by the UK Office for National Statistics. The petition, titled 'Adjust the £10 DWP Christmas Bonus introduced in 1972 to reflect inflation,' specifically targets British citizens who have been claiming benefits for at least six months.
The petition argues that the £10 amount, unchanged for decades, is now inadequate. It states, "In the early 1970s, £10 was a valuable uplift for those without income, to help with the increased costs associated with Christmas time. It would have helped towards paying for heating and electricity, food and drinks or Christmas presents for kids." The document further emphasizes that "£10 today won't even buy a round of drinks, wouldn't pay for a quality Christmas pudding or buy a box of decent Christmas crackers. £10 quite frankly is insulting."
Current Eligibility and Payment Details
According to government guidance, the Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas to individuals receiving certain benefits during the qualifying week, typically the first full week of December. Recipients do not need to claim it; payment is automatic, usually appearing in bank accounts with the reference ‘XB’ or ‘DWP XB’.
To qualify, claimants must be "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar and receive one of the following benefits in the first week of December:
- 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 (after the first 13 weeks)
- 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 petition highlights that adjusting the bonus for inflation would make it equivalent to approximately £180 today, underscoring the need for an update to support vulnerable individuals during the festive season.
