People on many benefits are eligible for the extra payments
The DWP is paying out a £10 bonus to millions of benefit claimants(Image: Getty)
The DWP is sending out £10 bonus payments to millions of benefit claimants this month. People on many benefits can get the one-off payment of £10 through the Christmas Bonus scheme. The cash is paid to people on benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and the state pension.
Claimants have reported they have started receiving the funds in their bank accounts. To be eligible, you usually have to be receiving one of the qualifying benefits in the qualifying week, which is typically the first full week of December.
The DWP was asked for an update about the payments that have gone out. A DWP spokesperson said: “The Christmas bonus is a long-standing annual payment, introduced in 1972, to pensioners and to working-age people who are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits during the relevant week.
Millions of DWP benefit claimants get the £10 Christmas Bonus(Image: Getty)
“As part of our Plan for Change we’re shifting our focus from welfare to work, skills, opportunities, so living standards are boosted and more people move out of poverty.” The department said the payments will go out “throughout December”.
Which benefits qualify for the Christmas Bonus?
You should qualify if you receive one of these benefits during 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.
The DWP has started issuing payment of £10 to benefit claimants(Image: Getty)
The bonus will be paid into the same account where you receive your benefit payments. It may appear as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.
If you don’t get the payment by January 1, you should either the Jobcentre Plus office that manages your payments or the Pension Service.
