If the petition is approved, the £10 Christmas bonus from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) could go up to £165. This bonus is given every December to people who receive certain benefits. The DWP gives this one-time payment to offer extra financial support during the holiday season. People who qualify for benefits like the state pension or other assistance programs receive this bonus as a small extra help at the end of the year.
DWP Christmas Bonus Increase
The “Christmas Bonus” is usually paid in the first week of December. It is a one-time, tax-free payment for people who get the State Pension or other benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, and Carer’s Allowance. You must meet the eligibility rules during a set period to get this bonus.
A petition is asking to raise this £10 Christmas bonus, which is given by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), to £165. The petition asks the next Labour Party government to increase this amount to match inflation. As per DWP rules, if you are married, in a civil partnership, or living with someone as if you are, and both of you receive eligible benefits, each will get a Christmas Bonus. The payment is automatic, so you don’t need to apply.
Impact of Raising the Christmas Bonus
Increasing the Christmas bonus could have both good and bad effects on the UK economy. On the positive side, it would give extra financial help to vulnerable people, especially during a time when expenses usually increase. This extra money could boost local economies, especially in areas that are struggling.
On the other hand, some believe that raising the bonus might put more pressure on the welfare system. Taxpayers would have to cover the extra cost, and with public services already facing budget issues, it raises questions about whether the government can afford it. There is also a worry that this increase might lead to more demands for raising other welfare payments, causing overspending.
Currently, those who receive DWP benefits like the State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Carer’s Allowance get this one-time Christmas bonus.
What are the qualifying Christmas Bonus Benefits?
To get the Christmas bonus, you must be receiving at least one of these benefits during the qualifying week:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (under war pensions or Industrial Injuries schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (after 13 weeks)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate)
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions)
- War Disablement Pension (at State Pension age)
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
If you qualify for any of these benefits during the qualifying week, you will automatically get the Christmas bonus. People receiving these DWP benefits are usually eligible for the bonus. However, if you haven’t claimed your State Pension and don’t qualify for any other benefits, you won’t receive it.
For Married Couples, Civil Partners, or Partners Living Together:
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), if you are married, in a civil partnership, or living together, and both of you receive an eligible benefit, each will get a Christmas bonus.
If only one of you receives an eligible benefit, your spouse or partner may still get the bonus if:
- Both of you are above the State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
- Your spouse or partner was living in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, EEA, or Switzerland during the qualifying week.
Additionally, one of these must also be true:
- Your spouse or partner is getting an increase in a qualifying benefit.
- The only qualifying benefit you receive is a Pension Credit.
This system ensures that both partners can receive the Christmas bonus if they meet the requirements.
Who Can Receive the Christmas Bonus?
To be eligible for the Christmas Bonus, you must be living in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. This period, which will be confirmed later, is expected to be from December 2, 2024, to December 8, 2024.
If you are a UK resident living in or moving to a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you may still get the Christmas Bonus. However, you need to be receiving at least one of the qualifying benefits during this time. The qualifying week is usually the first full week of December. Only those who meet these conditions will receive the bonus.
Where you live and the benefits you receive during this week will decide your eligibility for the Christmas Bonus.
