For many people in the UK, 2020 has proven financially draining. Businesses have closed down, people have lost their jobs, and many have lost their livelihoods.
As a result, many have looked to Universal Credit as a lifeline - with some people relying on it for food and heating, through no fault of their own.
Now, in the spirit of Christmas, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it will be giving benefits claimants a £10 bonus this December.
It may be a small gesture, but to many it will make a huge difference.
According to the Daily Record, this is a one-off tax-free £10 payment which is made before Christmas and paid to people who are in receipt of certain benefits during the qualifying week - normally the first full week of December.
This means claimants can expect their Christmas Bonus anytime between December 7th and 13h.
And the best bit is that you don’t even need to claim - it should automatically go into the account you usually receive your benefit payments and shows as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.
Who is eligible for the £10 Christmas Bonus?
To qualify for the Christmas Bonus you must be living in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland during the qualifying week, December 7 - 13.
You must also be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
- 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
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.
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together as if you are and you both get one of the qualifying benefits you’ll each get a Christmas Bonus payment.
