DWP says millions will wake up to bonus payment in bank account within days

Millions will get their £10 Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) Christmas bonus soon. The £10 Christmas bonus has been paid since 1972 and has never been increased, bar one year in 2008, when it was temporarily raised to £70 to help people during the financial crash.

Couples can each get a £10 Christmas bonus if they each get a qualifying benefit. Every year, the DWP pays £10 to Britons who receive certain benefits, usually during the first week of December, the government guidance has stipulated online.

To get a £10 Christmas Bonus, people must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. This is usually the first week of December, the DWP has explained ahead of December.

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They must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’:

• 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

You do not need to claim the Christmas bonus, which should be paid automatically into your bank account. The bonus does not affect any other benefits, and is tax free. The payment should show up as 'DWP XB' on your bank statements.

However, to get the Christmas bonus you have to be living in, or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the 'qualifying week' - the first week of December.