Payments will be made automatically, DWP said
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed who will get an automatic bonus in the upcoming weeks. This tax-free payment will be deposited into bank accounts in early December for those receiving certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off £10 payment. To qualify for a Christmas Bonus, you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, typically the first week in December.
You must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’:
- 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
- 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
If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not receive a Christmas Bonus. You do not need to apply for the Christmas Bonus – it should be given to you automatically.
If you believe you should receive it, but haven’t by 1 January, get in touch with the Jobcentre Plus office that handles your payments or the Pension Service.
If you’re married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting as if you are, and both of you receive one of the qualifying benefits, you’ll each be entitled to a Christmas Bonus payment.
