With Christmas approaching and the cut to Universal Credit kicking in, many people may be concerned about their finances and how they will fund this year's festivities.
Around six million people in the UK are estimated to be receiving the government benefit - but some claimants will be receive a Christmas bonus this year.
Here's what you need to know about the Universal Credit Christmas bonus - including how much you will get and how to claim it.
What is the Christmas bonus?
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, which is when you can expect to get your payment.
The bonus is not only given to those in receipt of universal credit. It is also given to those in receipt of personal independence payments (PIP), jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit and other payments.
When is the payment made?
Those eligible should get the extra cash before Christmas. It is paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week - normally the first full week of December - which is when you can expect to get your payment.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
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.
If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’:
- Armed Forces independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child disability payment
- Constant attendance allowance
- 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
- 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.
How do I claim it?
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 here, or the pension service.
