The Department for Work and Pensions is to give people on benefits a Christmas bonus this year - an annual uplift to help pay for the festive season.
The bonus this year, which will be £10 as it was last year, may be small comfort to people who will be losing out on £20 a week from next month.
The cut comes as additional payments made to people on Universal Credit through the coronavirus pandemic come to an end.
So at the end of a year when money will be tighter than ever, the extra £10 for people on PIP and Universal Credit will be welcome, reports The Express.
The Christmas Bonus web page reads: "The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.
"You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically."
The extra money does not affect any other benefit you get.
It will go into the usual account you use for your payments and may show up as DWP XB on your statement.
To get a Christmas Bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally the first full week of December:
- 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)
- 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
If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus.
You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically.
If you think you should get it, but have not, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.
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