DWP Christmas Bonus payment coming for all PIP claimants to help out over winter

Millions of people across the country are set to receive bonus payments in the run-up to Christmas. More than three million people in Britain claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

BirminghamLive reports claimants will notice an extra £10 in their bank accounts during December. This forms the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Christmas Bonus - which is handed out every year to help cover additional costs over winter.

The payment usually arrives shortly before Christmas - usually in the first week of December. For those eligible, the payment may appear in their bank account as DWP XB.

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As well as people on PIP other qualifying benefits for the bonus include Carer's Allowance and Pension Credit, with the latter also allowing pensioners to continue claiming winter fuel allowance after that payment became means-tested.

Here is a full list of benefits that will see people get the Christmas bonus if they receive the payment in the 'qualifying week' (usually the first week of December).

• 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 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

The £10 Christmas bonus has been criticised from some people, who claim that it is too small an amount to make much difference.

The DWP guidance states: "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. You must also get at least one of the (qualifying) benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally the first full week of December."