The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will reinstate its Christmas Bonus for winter 2026 to 2027, providing an additional one-off tax-free £10 payment to eligible claimants in December. The bonus will be paid on top of regular benefit or pension payments, including the Winter Fuel Payment.
The bonus applies to people receiving certain benefits during the qualifying week, which is normally the first full week of December. Recipients of the State Pension, including Graduated Retirement Benefit, Attendance Allowance, and the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit are among those who qualify. The DWP states that the bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week.
Eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus
To receive the bonus, claimants must be in receipt of at least one of a specified list of benefits during the qualifying week. The full list includes 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, and Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers).
Other qualifying benefits include Mobility Supplement, Pension Age Disability Payment, Pension Credit (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, and Widow’s Pension.
How the payment is made
The DWP confirms that claimants do not need to apply for the Christmas Bonus, as it is paid automatically. All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as a bank account, and the payment may appear on bank statements as 'DWP XB'.
Individuals who have not claimed their State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits will not receive the Christmas Bonus. If a claimant believes they should have received the payment but have not by 1 January, they are advised to contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with their payments or the Pension Service.
