Thousands of benefit claimants are poised to receive a Christmas bonus from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter. The annual payment of £10 is automatically distributed before Christmas to those on qualifying benefits.
DWP 2025 Christmas Bonus: Eligibility Criteria
The Christmas bonus is a one-time, tax-free payment available to eligible individuals who receive specific benefits during a designated week. To qualify, recipients must be among those who claim benefits during the first full week of December.
Qualifying Benefits
Eligible claimants must be receiving one of the following benefits to qualify for the Christmas bonus:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (from Industrial Injuries or War Pensions)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate)
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- State Pension
- Unemployability Supplement
- War Disablement Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
Couples in marriage, civil partnerships, or cohabiting can both receive the bonus if they claim qualifying benefits. However, those solely on Universal Credit are not eligible for this payment.
Christmas Bonus Payment Schedule
The Christmas bonus is expected to be credited automatically to bank accounts with the reference ‘XB’ or ‘DWP XB’. In 2025, key dates for benefit payments around Christmas include:
- Payments due on Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) will be made on Christmas Eve (24 December).
- Final confirmation regarding the payment schedule will typically be announced in December by the DWP.
Despite growing calls for an increase in the Christmas bonus, the amount has remained at £10 since 1972. This static payment has diminished in value due to inflation, prompting discussions about potential adjustments, although no plans have been confirmed as of now.
