Full list of benefits that qualify for one-off DWP payment this year including State Pension and PIP
The Christmas Bonus will be given to millions of benefit claimants this year - here's what you need to know about the eligibility criteria
by Catherine Addison-Swan, Linda Howard · ChronicleLiveThe Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will soon be sending out its annual bonus to millions of people in receipt of certain benefits.
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 made before Christmas to anyone who receives one of the eligible benefits in the qualifying week, which is usually in the first full week of December. Benefits that qualify you for the payment include State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance.
You do not need to apply for a Christmas Bonus, as it should be paid automatically into the same account as your benefit payments. But knowing whether you are eligible can help you budget for the months ahead and go a little way to easing the stress of increased costs over winter - here's everything you need to know about the payment, the Daily Record reports.
Who is eligible for the DWP Christmas Bonus?
In order to get the Christmas Bonus, you must be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
You 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
However, the GOV.UK website notes that if you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not get a Christmas Bonus.
If you are married, in a civil partnership, or living together as if you are, and both of you get one of the qualifying benefits, you will both get the Christmas Bonus payment. If your partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if you are both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, and the only qualifying benefit you're getting is Pension Credit, and/or you are entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner.
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