Millions of pensioners, as well as those in receipt of certain DWP benefits, including Carer's Allowance and PIP, are being urged to check their bank accounts to see if they have had a small bonus cash payment from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The annual £10 Christmas bonus from the DWP should have been distributed to eligible benefit claimants, but anyone who has not received it by January 1 should contact the relevant office that deals with their benefits or pension.
Introduced in 1972, this one-off payment offers a small financial boost to those receiving certain benefits, including state pensions, during the first full week of December, but it hasn't risen with inflation. If it had, it would be closer to £180 this year.
Who was eligible for the DWP Christmas bonus?
To be eligible for the payment , you must be receiving one of the following benefits along with Universal Credit.
A full list of eligible benefits includes:
- 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 guaranteed 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
On GOV.UK it says: "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."
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Check if you are also eligible for a DWP Cold Weather Payment
This £25 a week grant aims to help people with their heating bills when temperatures drop to zero. It is paid out by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible households whenever the average temperature in the area drops to freezing or below for seven consecutive days. Many postcodes should be eligible this week.
It's organised by postcodes, and payments are triggered if zero temperatures are either forecast or recorded between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
It only runs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there's a one-off Winter Heating Payment of nearly £60.
