DWP announces 'bonuses' for people who claim any of 23 benefits

People on 23 benefits paid out by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) are due a Christmas Bonus in December. But Universal Credit claimants will miss out - meaning six million are caught out by the eligibility criteria.

The full list of 23 benefits benefits which qualify for the bonus include Adult Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment and Child Disability Payment as well as Constant Attendance Allowance (paid for industrial injuries or War Pensions ).

Other qualifying criteria include Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate, Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers), Mobility Supplement, Pension Age Disability Payment and Pension Credit - the guarantee element.

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Personal Independence Payment (PIP), State Pension, Severe Disablement Allowance, Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid for industrial injuries or War Pensions ), War Disablement Pension at State Pension age, War Widow's Pension, Widowed Mother's Allowance and Widowed Parent's Allowance complete the list alongside Widow's Pension.

The benefit is a £10 bonus first introduced back in the 1970s. All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as your bank account. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement. 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 by 1 January, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service. 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.