The DWP ‘Christmas Bonus’ is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 made to people in receipt of certain benefits
Linda Howard Money and Consumer Writer and Lauren Haughey Lifestyle and Money Reporter
04:15, 07 Nov 2025
If you qualify for the bonus, you will likely receive this automatically before December 25(Image: Tim Bieber via Getty Images)
Pensioners are among the many people who may be eligible for an additional tax-free payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before the end of 2025. Usually, eligible Brits will automatically receive this bonus, but you can also check your entitlement for this one-time payment below.
The DWP ‘Christmas Bonus’ is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 made to people receiving certain benefits, including the State Pension and Attendance Allowance. Payments are issued per person and will be automatically sent out before January 1, 2026.
Pensioners who submit a new claim before the end of this month and later succeed will also be eligible for a £10 Christmas Bonus payment from the DWP if their application is submitted before the qualifying period. This is typically the first full week in December, according to the Daily Record.
It is essential to note that the DWP will issue this payment separately from your scheduled benefit payment, so it may arrive on a different day. There’s no need to apply for the additional £10, as it should be automatically deposited into the account where you receive benefits or State Pension. It usually appears as ‘DWP XB’ on bank statements and online accounts.
As of this year, those receiving at least one of 24 benefits are entitled to the upcoming Christmas Bonus. These claimants must also be either present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
According to the DWP, the 24 benefits included in this are:
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Widow’s Pension
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Attendance Allowance
- Mobility Supplement
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- War Widow’s Pension
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- Adult Disability Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Carer Support Payment
The DWP states that if you are in a married couple, civil partnership, or cohabiting with a partner and both receive a qualifying benefit, each of you will receive a Christmas Bonus. Nevertheless, even if your partner or civil partner does not receive a qualifying benefit, they might still be entitled to a Christmas Bonus.
This is provided that both of the following criteria apply:
- You are both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
- Your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week
One of the following must also apply:
- You are entitled to an increase in a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
- The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit
However, the DWP’s online guidance has also added: “If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus.”
If you have not received the Christmas Bonus by January 1, the DWP suggests contacting either the Pension Service or your local Jobcentre Plus office, depending on which manages your payments. For more information, you can also visit GOV.UK here.
