FAMILIES on benefits may get a handy £10 boost this winter as we head into the Christmas season.
The Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made before December 25.
Even better, you don’t need to do anything, you should be paid automatically.
Not everyone who gets benefits receives the payments. You need to live in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, or to show that you are ordinarily resident there.
You also need to get one of the qualifying benefits first.
Who gets the payments?
It’s paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week, which is usually the first full week of December.
The full list of benefits are:
- 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 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)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
However, the DWP warns that if you are over State Retirement Age but have not claimed your state pension, for instance because you are deferring it, then you won’t get the free cash.
The payment is calculated per individual, which means that if more than one adult in the household is eligible, they’ll each get a £10 payment.
In fact, even if your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if they reach state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
You don’t need to be married, you can just be living together as if you are. However, you must be entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner, or the only qualifying benefit you’re getting must be Pension Credit.
How is the money paid?
The money should go into your usual account, and might show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your statement.
The DWP doesn’t say exactly when the money will appear, but it does say that if you think you should get it and the money hasn’t come through by January 1, you must contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or the Pension Service if you’re over state retirement age.
If you get more than one Christmas Bonus, the DWP says you must let it know through the same channels.
Benefits blow
It comes at a time when the Labour Party has announced that the winter fuel payment will no longer be universal, leaving millions of pensioners £300 worse off this winter.
The Winter Fuel Payment used to be available for anyone over state pension age, however, from this year, you’ll only get it if you receive certain benefits, including Pension Credit and Universal Credit if you’re older than 66.
There are thousands of people missing out on Pension Credit because they haven’t applied for it, but it acts as a gateway for lots of valuable benefits including the winter fuel discount.
Read our guide on which benefits qualify, and when you need to apply by.
