The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging thousands of benefit claimants across the UK to come forward if they have not yet received their annual £10 Christmas Bonus. The one-off payment is designed to provide a small financial boost during the festive period.
Who is Eligible for the Payment?
The bonus is automatically paid to individuals who, during the first full week of December, are present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. Crucially, they must also be in receipt of at least one qualifying benefit.
Key groups who qualify include recipients of:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- State Pension
- Carer’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
The payment is typically made automatically in December, ahead of Christmas Day on the 25th. It should appear in the same account used for regular benefit payments and may be listed on bank statements as 'DWP XB'. The DWP confirms that receiving this bonus will not affect any other benefit payments.
What to Do If You Haven't Been Paid
Officials advise that if the £10 payment has not been received by January 1, eligible individuals should proactively contact their local Jobcentre Plus office. It is important to act promptly to ensure you receive what you are entitled to.
There are specific circumstances where you will not qualify for the bonus. You cannot receive it if:
- You are only on Universal Credit and no other qualifying benefit, due to it operating on a separate system.
- You have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to any other listed benefit.
Full List of Qualifying Benefits
The DWP's Christmas Bonus is available to claimants of a wide range of supports. The comprehensive list includes:
Adult Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Child Disability Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance, Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (after the first 13 weeks), Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate, Industrial Death Benefit, Mobility Supplement, Pension Age Disability Payment, Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA), Severe Disablement Allowance, Unemployability Supplement, War Disablement Pension at State Pension age, War Widow’s Pension, Widowed Mother’s Allowance, Widowed Parent’s Allowance, and Widow’s Pension.
If you believe you meet the criteria but have not seen the payment, reaching out to the DWP is the essential next step to secure your £10 Christmas Bonus.
