The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun making its annual tax-free Christmas Bonus payment directly into the bank accounts of millions of eligible benefit claimants across the UK.
Who Qualifies for the DWP Christmas Bonus?
To receive the automatic £10 Christmas Bonus, you must meet two key criteria. Firstly, you must have been present or 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, which is the first full week of December.
Secondly, you must have been in receipt of at least one qualifying state benefit during that same week. The core qualifying benefits include:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - once the main phase is entered after the first 13 weeks of a claim
- State Pension
All state pensioners are eligible, regardless of their income. If you receive Universal Credit as a stand-alone benefit, you must also be getting one of the listed benefits to qualify for the bonus.
Payment Details and What to Look For
The payment is being issued from the first week of December. For 2025, the qualifying week ran from Monday 1 December to Sunday 7 December.
The payment is automatic, so claimants do not need to apply. It should appear in your bank or building society account and may be listed on your statement as 'DWP XB'.
If you are part of a couple – whether married, in a civil partnership, or living together as such – and you both receive a qualifying benefit, you will each receive the £10 payment.
What to Do If Your Payment Is Missing
The DWP advises that if you believe you should have received the Christmas Bonus but it has not arrived by 1 January, you should contact the office that handles your payments.
This would be either your local Jobcentre Plus office or the Pension Service, depending on which benefit you claim. It is important to note that if you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to another qualifying benefit, you will not be eligible for the bonus.
This one-off payment is designed to provide a small financial boost during the festive period for those relying on state support.
