DWP Christmas Bonus to enter claimants' bank accounts soon

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be making a special bonus payment to millions of households. The cash will enter bank accounts over the next few weeks.

The payment, known as the DWP Christmas Bonus, is a sum of £10 paid to pensioners and people on certain benefits to provide a little extra help over the festive period. The Government said it will be dropping into accounts "before Christmas".

This means that most eligible people should receive the cash in either early or mid-December in time for Christmas. The payment is automatic for those who qualify and there is no need to apply, reports BirminghamLive.

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Qualifying benefits include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance and Carer's Allowance. This is as long as they are getting those benefits in the first full week of December.

The Government explained: "The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.

"You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically. If you think you should get it, but have not by January 1, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service."

There have been calls for the Christmas Bonus amount to be increased over recent years, amid claims the £10 payment doesn't make much of a difference to most people. The amount has not risen for years despite increases to inflation and the cost of of daily essentials in that time.