The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has just announced a bonus payment for millions of those in receipt of certain benefits.
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The one-off payment is tax-free and should land on the accounts of eligible Brits in time for Christmas.
Here is how much you could pocket and who is entitled to the cash boost.
Meanwhile, Universal Credit claimants could soon lose almost £400 in major benefits shake-up.
Also, DWP has just issued a warning over a £750 cost-of-living payment scam, here is how to stay safe.
Here is what the bonus is and who is eligible
Each year DWP pays out a one-off cash boost to those in receipt of certain benefits.
The amount - £10 - is tax-free and usually lands on the accounts of millions of Brits early in December, right in time for Christmas shopping.
Benefits that qualify youfor a bonus are as follows:
- Adult Disability Payment
- 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 the claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefits 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
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Here is what to do to receive your Christmas Bonus
To be entitled to the Christmas Bonus, you must be both a resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar and in receipt of the benefits aboveduring the qualifying week.
The payment is normally made into a bank account and shows up as ‘DWP XB’ on the statement.
If you haven’t claimed your state pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits, you won’t receive a Christmas Bonus.
If you believe you are eligible to benefits but aren't getting them, use a benefits calculator on the Government website.
DWP commented:
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’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together and you both get one of the qualifying benefits you will each get a Christmas Bonus payment.
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Sources used:
- Express: 'DWP announces bonus payment for millions this year - full list of benefits included'