State pension: Christmas Bonus due for millions – what to do if you haven’t received it | Personal Finance | Finance
Each year, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides a one-off, tax-free payment to eligible individuals. This includes state pensioners, many of whom will be keeping an eye out for the payment to drop into their bank account.
The Christmas Bonus is typically paid on the first full week of December.
It could go towards festive costs, or simply serve as a small amount in a person’s back pocket.
The sum is currently worth £10 – although some have called for it to increase in recent years.
This is because the sum was £10 when it was first introduced back in 1972, and has not been adjusted for inflation.
READ MORE: Pensioner, 72, boosts income by £156 per week with top-up
Benefit claimants can contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with their payments to find out more.
Whereas, pensioners can reach out to the Pension Service for clarity on the matter.
To get a Christmas Bonus, a person must be present or ordinarily resident in specific locations during the qualifying week.
These are:
- The UK
- Channel Islands
- Isle of Man
- Gibraltar.
The qualifying week is typically the first full week of December, which this year was December 5 to December 11.
Individuals must also get at least one of the following benefits or payments in the qualifying week:
- 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 claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit 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.
People who have not claimed the state pension and are not entitled to a qualifying benefit will not get a Christmas Bonus.
A number of people shared with the website Benefits and Work that they are still awaiting their payment.
A user named Janice Evans said: “I retired in May this year and get a Government pension, but have not had the £10 bonus.”
Margaret wrote: “Not had my Xmas bonus yet, I could really do with it in my pocket!”
While Alan Lamberton said: “I’ve met the qualifications to get my £10 Christmas bonus, but it has not been deposited in my bank.”
