DWP December bonus payment to people on 23 benefits - see if you are eligible

This December, recipients of 23 different benefits distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to receive a small but pleasant festive surprise in their bank accounts - the DWP's £10 Christmas Bonus. This will provide a teeny bit of extra cash during one of the most financially challenging times of the year, with high heating costs and Christmas expenses stretching budgets.

Unfortunately, not all benefit claimants will receive the bonus. Universal Credit claimants are excluded from the payment, making six million people ineligible due to the criteria.

However, those who receive additional funds through other specified benefits should still see the payment. The extensive list of 23 benefits that qualify for the bonus includes 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).

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Other qualifying benefits 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.

The list is rounded off by 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, Widowed Parent's Allowance, and Widow's Pension. The benefit was first introduced in the 1970s, reports Teesside Live - but has never been increased in all the time since then.

All benefits, pensions and allowances are typically paid into an account, such as your bank account. It may appear 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 receive a Christmas Bonus. You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - it should be given automatically.

If you believe you should receive it, but have not by January 1, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that handles 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 receive a Christmas Bonus payment.

Full list of benefits that entitle you to Christmas Bonus

• War Widow’s Pension

• Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

• Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)

• Widow’s Pension

• Carer’s Allowance

• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Pension Age Disability Payment

• Widowed Mother’s Allowance

• Carer Support Payment

• Child Disability Payment

• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)

• Attendance Allowance

• Pension Credit - the guarantee element

• Disability Living Allowance

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance

• Adult Disability Payment

• State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

• Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate

• Mobility Supplement

• Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)