THOUSANDS of households on benefits should receive a £10 cash boost this week.
The payment is known as the benefits Christmas bonus.
AlamyHouseholds must meet two criteria to qualify for the tax-free cash[/caption]
The cash boost is made up of a one-off tax-free £10 payment.
The payments are usually made during the qualifying week at the beginning of December each year.
The qualifying period this year is between December 5-11, according to the DWP.
Eligible households don’t need to apply for the bonus as it will be paid automatically – but they will need to meet the eligibility criteria.
As the £10 is a bonus, it won’t need to be repaid either, nor will it affect any other benefits you receive.
To qualify for the payment you must be present or ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the first full week of December between the 5 and 11.
Households will also need to claim at least one of the 20 qualifying benefits within the same period.
The bonus isn’t available to those who receive Universal Credit only but someone on Universal Credit who also receives one of the qualifying benefits will receive it.
Which benefits make you eligible for the Christmas bonus?
The following 20 benefits make you eligible for the tax-free £10 Christmas bonus payment.
Armed Forces Independence PaymentAttendance AllowanceCarer’s AllowanceChild Disability PaymentConstant 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 AllowanceIncapacity Benefit at the long-term rateIndustrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)Mobility SupplementPension Credit – the guarantee elementPersonal 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 ageWar Widow’s PensionWidowed Mother’s AllowanceWidowed Parent’s AllowanceWidow’s Pension
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or live together, you’ll both get the cash bonus – as long as you both are eligible.
If you or your partner do not get one of the above qualifying benefits, then they could still get the bonus if they are over the state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
How do I claim the Christmas bonus?
You shouldn’t have to do anything to get the Christmas bonus if you’re eligible.
If you’re getting any of the benefits above, it should be paid to you automatically.
You’ll get it paid into the same account where you normally receive your benefit payments.
But it’s worth keeping an eye on your account to see that you’ve received it closer to Christmas.
You should see it as a payment from “DWP XB” on your bank statement.
If you think that you qualify but didn’t receive the payment automatically, contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Pension Centre.