DWP bonus payment coming for all PIP claimants this winter - what you need to know

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) makes various one-off payments to people claiming benefits - and one of these is the Christmas bonus

Over three million Britons who claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will receive an extra bonus payment in the run-up to Christmas. Those eligible for the bonus will find an additional £10 deposited into their bank accounts come December.

Many recipients might be puzzled over the sudden extra cash. It is, in fact, the DWP's annual Christmas Bonus, distributed every year to people on certain benefits as a modest financial uplift during the festive season.

Typically, the bonus lands in bank accounts just ahead of the Yuletide celebrations. Qualifying benefits include PIP, Carer's Allowance, and Pension Credit, though it's worth noting Universal Credit claimants are not eligible for the Christmas Bonus if they claim this benefit alone.

As the bonus aims to offer a helping hand to some of the least well-off households, it has been met with criticism for being too scant a sum to make any tangible difference especially as the £10 rate hasn't budged in years despite inflationary pressures, reports Birmingham Live.

The debate comes on the heels of the controversy surrounding Winter Fuel Payments, which are set to see countless pensioners receiving up to £300 less this year. The Government states: "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. You must also get at least one of the (qualifying) benefits in the 'qualifying week' - this is normally the first full week of December."