The Christmas Bonus is a one-off payment of £10. If you get more than one Christmas Bonus, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service . It will not affect any other benefits you get. How you’re paid All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account , such as your bank account. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.

To get a Christmas Bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland . You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally the first full 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 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.

You do not need to claim the Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically. If you think you should get it, but have not by 1 January, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with 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 get a Christmas Bonus payment. If your partner or civil partner does not get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if both the following apply: 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 One of the following must also apply: 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

Christmas Bonus

Overview

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.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

View a printable version of the whole guide

Christmas Bonus

Overview

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Christmas Bonus

Overview

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK