The mystery code on bank statements which means you will get automatic bonus payment
Money to arrive in bank accounts in the run-up to Christmas
by Richard Guttridge, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/richard-guttridge/ · Birmingham LiveSpecial bonus payments will soon start dropping into bank accounts for certain people. The payments may come as a surprise as not everyone may be aware of them or what they are for.
It might leave some scratching their heads when they see the payment has landed in their accounts. But there's nothing to worry about.
This will be the £10 Christmas Bonus payment from the DWP. It's paid out to claimants of certain benefits to provide a small boost over Christmas.
READ MORE: All state pensioners told there will be no bonus payment this year
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Those unsure of how to identify the payment have been told about a special code to look out for on their bank statements. The code is: 'DWP XB'.
This should let people know they have received the Christmas Bonus. It's paid automatically and people don't need to apply for it. Qualifying benefits include PIP, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Pension Credit.
The "qualifying week" for the bonus - when people must be getting one the of the benefits - is the first full week of December. The money will then be paid at some point before Christmas.
It's designed to provide a little bit of help to those on low incomes but the relatively low amount of money has led to questions about whether it makes any difference. Criticism has grown louder over recent years as inflation and the cost of living has increased but the £10 amount has remained the same.
The Government says: "The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.
"You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically. All benefits, pensions and allowances are normally paid into an account, such as your bank account. It may show up as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement."