Millions of individuals receiving specific benefits are set to get an extra payment in the upcoming weeks. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues an annual Christmas bonus of £10, typically disbursed in early December but sometimes arriving as late as January.
If you are claiming benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, or Personal Independence Payment, you will automatically qualify for this bonus. It is essential to be receiving one of these benefits during the “qualifying week,” which is usually the initial full week of December, to be eligible for the Christmas bonus.
Residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week is mandatory to receive the bonus. Couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting may both receive the Christmas bonus if both partners are benefit claimants.
The payment, listed as “DWP XB” on bank statements, is tax-free and does not impact other benefits. Even if one partner does not claim qualifying benefits, they may still be entitled to the bonus if certain conditions are met.
Introduced by the DWP in 1972, the Christmas bonus has faced criticism for its stagnant £10 value since inception, with a brief increase to £70 in 2008 during the financial crisis, reverting back to £10 the following year.
