DWP one-off payment to people on benefits including PIP and Pension Credit explained

The extra cash is worth £10 and has faced criticism for being an 'insult' and 'a joke' - as it has never been permanently increased since it was introduced by the DWP in 1972

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will soon pay a one-off Christmas bonus to people claiming benefits.

The extra cash is worth £10 and has faced criticism for being an "insult" and "a joke" - as it has never been permanently increased since it was introduced by the DWP in 1972. The £10 would be worth around £115 today if it had kept up with inflation, according to a Bank of England calculator.

One person told The Mirror: "Cannot buy much with that it’s a complete insult." Another person said: "Not worth the bother and expense to send. The Tooth Fairy is just as generous!" Brits who receive one of the following benefits in the "qualifying week" - which is usually the first full week of December - will receive the bonus.

Do you think the £10 Christmas bonus is enough? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Full list of benefits that get DWP Christmas bonus

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• 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 must also be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, it is possible for both of you to get the Christmas bonus. You each need to be claiming one of the qualifying benefits.

If one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, as long as they meet both of the following requirements:

• You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
• Your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week

And either:

• You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
• The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit

When is DWP Christmas bonus paid?

If you’re entitled to the Christmas bonus, then it should get paid automatically - you won’t need to apply for it. It will show up as "DWP XB" on your bank statement. The money is tax-free and will not affect any of your other benefits.