Christmas Bonus: what it is, eligibility and how to claim

If you claim certain benefits, you may be eligible for a one-off payment called the Christmas Bonus. But what is it, how much is it worth and who receives it?

What is the Christmas Bonus?

The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10, which is paid to people claiming certain benefits within a qualifying week.

The qualifying week is usually the first week in December and, as long as you are claiming one of the specified benefits during this week, you should receive it.

You don’t need to make a claim to receive your bonus.

If you qualify for payment, you should receive it automatically into the account used to make your benefit payments. You’ll need to check your statement to find out if you’ve received the bonus.

It should be referenced ‘DWP XB’ – shorthand for Department of Work and Pensions Christmas Bonus.

The bonus is tax-free, so you’ll receive the full amount – and it won’t affect any other benefit payments.

What are the qualifying benefits?

To receive the Christmas Bonus, you will need to be receiving one of the following benefits within the qualifying week:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance  
• 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

You’ll also need to be living in or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland during the qualifying week to be eligible for the payment.

What if you’re married or in a civil partnership?

If you’re married, in a civil partnership or living together as if you were, as long as both of you are receiving one of the above benefits during the qualifying week, you’ll both receive the Christmas Bonus.

If one of you doesn’t receive a qualifying benefit, they may still get the bonus.

To receive it, you both need to be over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week and living in or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland.

On top of this, either of the following must also apply:

• you’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
• the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit.

If you think you’re eligible for the bonus but don’t receive it, you’ll need to contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or pension centre to find out why.