DWP Christmas Bonus To lessen the financial burden and provide additional support, the Department for Work and Pensions provides a one-time Christmas Bonus payment to those who are receiving qualifying benefits. The maximum amount of DWP tax-free and one-time Christmas bonus payment is £10.
The DWP Christmas Bonus payment is a one-off that will be provided to cover the costs associated with holidays, to those individuals who get certain benefits during the qualifying week.
DWP Christmas Bonus Payments
The DWP Christmas bonus is a tax-free payment so it doesn’t affect any other benefit that individuals are claiming. The qualifying week is usually the first full week of December. For 2024, the qualifying week is going to start on December 2 and will last on December 8.
It will be paid to you automatically if you are eligible. Usually, eligible individuals will get their payments into their bank accounts. If you do not get it on time then it is advised to you please contact the Jobcentre Plus office that handles your benefits and the Pension Service if you are getting a government pension.
For the last few years, families have expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of Christmas bonus. They said that it is an ‘insult’ because the DWP Christmas bonus payment has never been boasted since its introduction.
During the financial crisis of 2008, it was temporarily increased to £70 to provide financial aid to eligible individuals but unfortunately, it was reduced back to £10 the following year.
Who is eligible for a DWP Christmas Bonus Payment?
The eligibility requirements for DWP Christmas bonus payments are listed below.
- Interested individuals need to be present or “ordinarily resident” of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar throughout the qualifying week.
- Married couples, civil partners, or cohabiting persons both can get the Christmas bonus if they qualify.
- To qualify, individuals need to claim one of the below listed specified benefits during the qualifying week:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension Age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
- 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)
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefits at the long-term rate
Note: If an individual’s spouse does not get any of the above-listed benefits, they may still qualify for a DWP Christmas bonus payment if they need to be:
- State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
- Permanent resident of the UK, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, a European Economic Area (EEA) country, Channel Islands, or Switzerland during the qualifying week.
- Eligible for an increase in a qualifying benefit for their partner or civil partner.
- Getting only one qualifying benefit named Pension Credit.
When will you get the DWP Christmas Bonus Payments?
Usually, the bonus payment will be provided to those who satisfy the eligible rules of it, at the start of December. There is no information disclosed about the exact payout delivery date yet by officials. But it is expected that the Christmas bonus payment should be delivered to your bank account by December 31 at the latest.
But If you are eligible but will not get your Christmas bonus funds by January 1, 2025, then you need to contact the Jobcentre Plus office that handles your benefit payments or reach out to the Pension Service if you are getting a Government pension.
How can you receive DWP Christmas Bonus Payments?
Eligible individuals will get their DWP Christmas bonus payment into an account, such as your bank account. It may appear as ‘DWP XB’ on an individual’s bank statement. It is very important for individuals to update their bank account information if any type of changes occur in their bank or financial institution’s details.
It is recommended that you update your details by contacting your local Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service. It is also a good idea to check your bank account on a regular basis so that you know whether your Christmas bonus payment will arrive or not.
