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Millions of pensioners, as well as those in receipt of many DWP benefits including Carer's Allowance and PIP, will receive a small bonus cash payment from the Department for Work and Pensions this Christmas.
The annual £10 Christmas bonus from the DWP is distributed to eligible benefit claimants each year.
Introduced in 1972, this one-off payment offers a small financial boost to those receiving certain benefits, including state pensions, usually during the first full week of December, but it hasn't risen with inflation. If it had, it would be more than £180 this year.
Who is eligible for the DWP Christmas bonus?
To be eligible for the payment , you must be receiving one of the following benefits along with Universal Credit.
A full list of eligible benefits includes:
- 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 guaranteed 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
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DWP benefit payment dates over Christmas
If your regular pension or benefits payment was due to be paid on Christmas Day or December 28 this year, then you will receive your money on Wednesday, December 24.
If you are due to receive Universal Credit or any other benefit payment on New Year's Day (Friday, January 1), then you should receive your payment on Thursday, December 31.
The Government website explains: "Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
"If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before."