DWP bonus payment for those on PIP, Attendance Allowance and more

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Across the UK, an estimated 22.7 million people are claiming at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This includes nearly 12.7 million pensioners receiving State Pension payments, a contributory benefit only available to those of retirement age with at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance Contributions.

However, many individuals, including new retirees, may not be aware of an annual bonus paid to those on certain benefits before Christmas, which could prove useful during the colder months. The 'Christmas Bonus' is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of State Pension or those claiming certain other benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance - if they meet the eligibility criteria during a specific qualifying period, usually the first full week in December.

Despite this, while some 22 benefits are eligible for the £10 payment, around 6.7 million people claiming Universal Credit do not qualify. It's important to note that the DWP will make this as a separate payment, independent of your scheduled State Pension or benefit payment, so it may arrive on a different day, the Record reported.

No one needs to apply for the extra £10 as it should automatically go into the account where you usually receive your benefit payment or State Pension. It will show as 'DWP XB' on bank statements and online accounts.

The £10 Christmas Bonus, a tradition since its introduction by Ted Heath's Conservative Government in 1972, has remained unchanged for over fifty years. Despite the lack of an increase or inflation adjustment, the bonus would now be worth around £115, according to current figures from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) using the composite price index.

Who is eligible for the £10 Christmas Bonus?

To qualify for the Christmas Bonus, individuals must be present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the expected qualifying week of December 2 to 8, 2024. Further details on the exact qualifying week will be confirmed later this year.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send out letters in December to those who are entitled to the £10 bonus, although recipients should be aware that these notifications might arrive after the bonus has been paid.

Eligibility criteria for benefits

Claimants must be receiving at least one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:

  • Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

  • Attendance Allowance

  • Carer’s Allowance

  • Carer Support Payment (Scotland only)

  • Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)

  • 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

It should be noted that not everyone above the State Pension age is automatically entitled to the bonus. The DWP's official guidance on GOV.UK clarifies: "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."

Married couples, cohabiting partners and civil partnerships

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released guidelines stating that if you're married, in a civil partnership or living together as though you are, and both of you receive one of the qualifying benefits, you will each be entitled to a £10 Christmas Bonus payment.

If your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if both the following apply:

  • you’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week

  • your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week

One of the following must also apply:

  • You are entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner

  • the only qualifying benefit you are getting is Pension Credit

There's no need to apply for the Christmas Bonus - it should be automatically credited to you.