IF you receive a state pension then you’re eligible for a cash gift from the Government this winter.
The annual £10 festive bonus is paid every year to millions of people on benefits and is designed to help with the extra costs of Christmas.
£10 Christmas gift for state pensioners this December[/caption]
While £10 doesn’t get you far these days, it’s worth having – better in your pocket than theirs after all – and with the increased cost of energy bills since October 1, it all helps.
Plus, the bonus won’t affect your pension credit or any other benefits and it’s tax-free.
Payment is automatic and you should receive the money into your bank account just before Christmas Day.
Introduced in 1972, the festive bonus is still a welcome extra in 2024, with the cost of living being so high.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible this year you have to be in receipt of the state pension during the qualifying week of December 1-8.
You must also live in one of the following countries:
- The UK
- The Channel Islands
- The Isle of Man
- Gibraltar
- Switzerland
- Any European Economic Area (EEA) country
If you don’t claim state pension or have deferred it then you will not receive the cash bonus.
How do I get the Christmas bonus?
If you’re eligible for the £10 bonus then payment is automatic and it goes directly into the same bank account as your pension payments.
It will show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement so check your statement to make sure you received it.
If you don’t receive a payment but believe you should have done then contact the Pension Service – the address and phone number are on the Government website gov.uk.
Who else can get the bonus?
The £10 cash bonus is currently paid to those on a range of benefits. These are:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- 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)
- 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
What other help is available for pensioners this Christmas?
A winter fuel payment, which is worth up to £300, will be paid to some people receiving the state pension this winter, though not all.
The payment is now means-tested so if you receive pension credit you’re eligible for the one-off annual payment, but if you don’t then you will no longer qualify.
If you’re on pension credit and aged 75 or older, you will also be eligible for a free TV licence.
To check your eligibility for pension credit take a look at the Government website.
Pension Credit explained
Pension Credit is a benefit which gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income in retirement.
It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
You may be able to get extra help of you’re a carer, have a disability, or are responsible for a child.
It also opens up access to lots of other benefits such as the warm home discount scheme, support for mortgage interest, council tax discounts, free TV licences once you’re over 75, and help with NHS costs.
To qualify, you need to be over state pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
If you have a partner, you need to include them on your claim.
Pension Credit tops up:
- your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
- your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner
However, even if your income is higher, you might still qualify if you have a disability or caring responsibilities.
There is also another element to Pension Credit called savings credit. To get this, you need to have saved some money towards your retirement.
You can get an extra £17.01 a week for a single person or £19.04 a week for a married couple.
If you have more than £10,000 in savings, the government uses a calculation to work out how much it adds to your income.
Every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.
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