A growing public campaign is demanding a massive increase to the Department for Work and Pensions' annual Christmas Bonus, calling the current £10 payment "insulting" in today's economic climate.
Petition Calls for Inflation-Linked Uplift
A formal petition hosted on the official UK Parliament website is urging the DWP and the Labour government to intervene. It argues the one-off £10 Christmas Bonus, first introduced in 1972, should be adjusted for inflation to approximately £180 in 2025. The petition's creator, David Angus Kirkwood, states the original sum was a meaningful contribution towards heating, food, or children's presents during the festive period.
The petition text reads: "£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." It further proposes that any increased payment should be available only to British citizens who have been claiming benefits for a minimum of six months.
Campaign Gathers Momentum
As of the latest count, the petition has garnered 4,109 signatures. It requires 10,000 signatures to trigger an official response from the government. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, the matter will be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition remains open for signatures until 20 May 2026, giving it ample time to gather support and potentially spark a reaction from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's administration.
What is the Christmas Bonus?
Currently, the Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made automatically to people receiving certain qualifying benefits during the first full week of December. Recipients do not need to apply; the payment should arrive directly in their bank account, often with the reference 'XB' or 'DWP XB'.
Government guidance confirms the payment is designed to provide a small financial boost during the festive season. However, campaigners argue its value has been utterly eroded over the more than 50 years since its introduction, failing to provide any meaningful support against the backdrop of a sustained cost of living crisis.
