DWP Christmas bonus to be paid to anyone who is claiming certain benefits

People claiming certain benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have been told they will get a special bonus payment this year. The extra cash will drop into bank accounts over the festive period.

It is known as the DWP's Christmas Bonus and is worth an extra £10. Those who claim one of the qualifying benefits will get the boost, as long as they were receiving them during the first full week of December.

The money will enter bank accounts automatically and people don't need to apply for it. A range of benefits qualify claimants for the bonus, including Pension Credit, Disability Allowance and Carer's Allowance, reports BirminghamLive.

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If people spot the extra £10 payment and are unsure what it is, it's likely this is their Christmas Bonus. The full list of qualifying benefits are:

• Adult Disability Payment

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Attendance Allowance

• Carer’s Allowance

• Carer Support Payment

• Child Disability Payment

• 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 Age Disability Payment

• 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

While the bonus payment is designed to provide a small boost for some of the worst off, there has been criticism the amount is so low it makes hardly any difference to those who receive it. The £10 amount has remained unchanged for years while inflation and the value of day-to-day goods has surged in that time.