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There are thousands of benefit claimants Ready to receive Christmas Bonus From the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter.
The annual £10 payment is made automatically before Christmas, but only to those who claim eligible benefits. These include carer’s allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP)and pension credit. However, those who claim universal credit as a standalone advantage Are not eligible.
Government guidance states: “The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas to people who receive certain benefits in the qualifying week.
“This is usually the first full week of December. You don’t have to make a claim – you should automatically get paid.”
Payments will usually arrive into bank accounts bearing the reference ‘XB’ or ‘DWP XB’.
Eligible claimants must have received receipt of one of the following benefits in the first week of December to qualify, as well as being “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar.
Those eligible are recipients of any of the following:
- adult disability Payment
- armed forces freedom payment
- attendance allowance
- carer allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- child disability payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under industrial injuries or war pension schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main stage of benefits is entered after the first 13 weeks of claims)
- Disability Living Allowance
- disability benefits at long term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- mobility supplement
- pension age disability payment
- Pension Credit – Guarantee Element
- Personal Independence Payment (pip,
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Severe Disability Allowance (Transitional Protected)
- State pension (including graduated retirement benefits)
- Unemployment supplement or allowance (paid under industrial injuries or war pension schemes)
- War Disability Pension on State Pension Age
- war widow pension
- widow mother’s allowance
- widow parents allowance
- widow pension
Couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or living together (in some circumstances) will both receive one Payment If both are receiving one of these eligible benefits.
Government In recent years there have been calls to increase the bonus, with the amount of £10 remaining unchanged since 1972. This means it has fallen by more than £100 after decades of inflation. To date, no plans have been announced to change payment levels.
There are also a number of key dates for benefit claimants to be aware of Christmas Season, which will change upon receipt of payment.
This year, the most DWP Payments due on Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) or Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) must be paid on Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24 December). This was the case in previous years, but it is subject to final confirmation by the department, which is usually announced in December.