People on benefits will see a bit of extra money in their banks next month as the Christmas welfare bonus will be going ahead.
A spokesman from DWP confirmed to Mirror Money the payment would be getting paid in December and it’s entirely tax free.
The extra cash is available to those who are already claiming at least one of a series of benefits, from disability living allowance to carers allowance.
The one-off payment will be of £10 and it’s typically paid to people in the first full week of December.
It won’t affect any other entitlements people normally receive.
Here are the benefits you need to be claiming in the first full week of December to automatically qualify:
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
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That means people on Universal Credit won't automatically get the extra £10 unless they also receive one of the above benefits.
"If you haven’t claimed your State Pension and aren’t entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you won’t get a Christmas Bonus," the DWP site states.
Couples who both qualify will both get the extra payment.
If your other half doesn't get one of the qualifying benefits, they could still get an extra payment if:
You're both over State Pension age by the end of the first full week in December,
You're both a resident of the qualifying regions by the end of the first full week in December,
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.
The Christmas Bonus should automatically be transferred into the bank account your benefits are normally paid into - showing up as "DWP XB" on your bank statement.
If you haven't got it, and think you should have, contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus or pension centre .
