THESE are the benefits that are set to include the one-off Christmas payment.
From state pension, personal independence payment (PIP) and the pension credit, as many as 20 are included – and if you receive one of them, you’ll be in line for the £10 boost.
Anyone entitled to the payment doesn’t need to apply – it will be paid automatically.
It also doesn’t affect any other benefits you receive.
You’ll get the £10 if you receive any of these benefits:
The cash will arrive in the same account you already receive benefit payments.
Keep an eye on your account, though – just to make sure you’ve received it in December.
If you don’t receive the payment but think you qualify, you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Pension Care.
Thousands of households on benefits are set to receive the cash boost, paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.
But it has drawn criticism for not being as big a boost as some may hope with the festive season an expensive time of year.
The payment was first introduced in 1972 – and hasn’t risen since.
According to the Bank of England inflation calculator, £10 from 1972 is these days equivalent to £115.11.
David Southgate, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said the Christmas bonus feels like a “drop in the ocean”.
He added: “The wider issue is that far too many disabled people who rely on benefits can’t even afford basic essentials like food and heating.
“The government urgently needs to reform our broken welfare system so benefits cover everyone’s essential costs.”
The new government could mean a change to the payment.
Any amendments would likely be announced in the Autumn Budget which is due to take place on October 30.
Dr Steffan Evans, head of policy at charity The Bevan Foundation, previously told The Sun any increase to the bonus would be “hugely appreciated” and urged the government to consider raising the amount.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
FUMING The Masked Singer fans have pointed out a huge issue with the show’s updated judging panel.
Love Island host Maya Jama has been confirmed as a new panelist, taking over from Rita Ora.
The I Will Never Let You Down singer has officially exited the ITV hit after five series.
Some viewers aren’t happy, as they said Maya lacks the singing expertise Rita brought to the panel.
Taking to Reddit, one person wrote: “I still don’t think this was the right choice, but what you gonna do.
“Should have been a singer or someone with musical experience.”
Over on Instagram, another fumed: “Well this is a shambles, they should have at least one singer on here.”
As a third chimed in: “So on a singing show, there isn’t a single judge that’s a singer?”
However, a fellow fan argued having a singing background isn’t necessary as a judge, penning: “Everyone stressing… this isn’t a singing competition!!!!
“It’s about guessing who the person singing is – RELAX..”
Rita’s exit marks the first big change to the show since its 2020 launch.
Meanwhile, Maya is joining host Joel Dommett, as well as returning judges Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan.
Addressing her new gig, Maya said: “I’m such a Masked Singer fan, so joining the panel alongside Davina, Jonathan, and Mo—and of course working with Joel—is going to be so much fun!
“I can’t wait to figure out who’s underneath all those incredible costumes, vibe to their performances, and get front-row seats to the unmaskings.
“I’ve watched the show for a long time, so I’m definitely bringing my A-game to the panel!”
The Sun previously revealed how Rita had decided to step away from the beloved ITV series.
The Masked Singer has been a smash-hit for ITV since launching in 2020. Here's a look at the show's familiar on air team.
Judges
Current:
Former:
Host
Joel Dommett: Joel has presented every series of The Masked Singer so far.
We first told how Maya was being lined up by execs to replace her as Rita had conflicting filming commitments.
Earlier this year, Rita joined the hit show’s US counterpart, replacing Nicole Scherzinger.
The next series of The Masked Singer UK is set to land on ITV1 early next year.
The Masked Singer airs on ITV1.
JAMES Middleton, the younger brother of Princess Kate, has given an update on her cancer battle.
Kate, 42, recently returned to work at Windsor Castle just days after revealing she had completed her chemotherapy.
James, 37, has now shared a health update on an interview with USA Today as he promoted his new book, Meet Ella.
Speaking to the US news programme about his eldest sister, the father-of-one said: “She’s doing ok.”
James continued: “It’s not for me to share on her behalf, you know, how everything’s going.
“But she’s getting all the right support and focus that she needs. And like anything, it takes time to process.”
Kate was spotted for the first time since announcing she’d finished chemotherapy.
Members of the Royal Family attended Crathie Kirk Church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland this morning for Sunday Service.
Members of the Royal Family attended Crathie Kirk Church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland this morning for Sunday Service.
The Princess of Wales sat in the passenger seat of a car while Prince William, 42, was seen driving.
The mum-of-three looked well and appeared to be wearing a khaki hat.
They joined King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 77, at the small parish church.
Businessman James is the proud owner of novelty marshmallow company Boomf.
He also runs the Cake Kit Company, which delivers bespoke sweet treats and baking kits for special occasions.
Impressively, his award-winning business has created cakes for fashion giants Jigsaw and Ralph Lauren.
James has also registered three more companies – Nice Cakes, Nice Wine and Nice Group London.
A DEATH row inmate is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas months after the inhumane method caused another prisoner to suffer in agony for 22 minutes.
Convicted triple murderer Alan Eugene Miller, 59, will be executed in Alabama on Thursday, marking the second nitrogen gas execution the state will carry out this year.
Miller, who was convicted of the workplace murders of Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy, and Terry Jarvis in 2000, was due to die by lethal injection in 2022 – but his execution was called off after prison staffers were unable to find a vein.
At the time, Miller was left hanging vertically on a gurney for over an hour as three prisoner staffers made several attempts to locate a vein, poking him multiple times in the process.
Now, the convicted murderer is slated to be executed by nitrogen gas.
Miller, who weighs over 350 pounds, previously testified in a court hearing that medical workers always have trouble locating his veins.
He fought to outright stop his execution in March but eventually agreed to be executed by nitrogen gas.
Court records obtained by NBC News showed Miller showed signs of concern that the prison staff would have trouble securing the mask over his face.
“Are these people that are going to fit [the mask], what’s their training,” Miller said.
“I’ve got a big old head. Nothing else fits my head.”
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office previously argued in court documents that the execution method would be “swift, painless, and inhumane.”
However, the attorney general’s office received backlash as some spectators called the method the “most violent” form of death after witnessing Kenneth Eugue Smith’s execution in January.
Smith died on January 25 after being administered pure nitrogen gas through a face mask while being strapped to a gurney.
The death row inmate, 58, was supposed to quickly lose consciousness seconds after inhaling the deadly gas, but he remained alert for several minutes, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office said at the time.
Instead, Smith shook and writhed on the gurney, ripping his head forward and back for approximately two minutes after the gas was administered, witnesses recalled.
As he laid on the gurney, Smith was breathing heavily for five to seven minutes before dying, according to Alabama Live.
Journalist Lee Hedgepeth, who was present during Smith’s execution, described the horrific site to BBC at the time.
“The curtains of the execution chamber pulled back. Kenny is lying strapped to a gurney. His upper body is strapped,” he recalled.
“Kenny begins to violently shake against the straps that are holding him,” Hedgepeth said after the prisoner was administered the gas.
“That violent shaking lasts for about four or five minutes.
“I’ve witnessed five executions in Alabama. Four of them lethal injection. One with nitrogen, and this was the most violent execution I have ever seen.”
In 2018, Alabama authoritized the use of nitrogen gas as a method of execution for death row inmates.
Convicted murderer Kenneth Eugue Smith was the first inmate on death row to be executed by nitrogen gas on January 25, 2024.
Death row prisoner Alan Eugene Miller is scheduled to be executed via the same method on September 26, 2024.
What is nitrogen gas, and how does it work in executions?
