DWP pensioners Christmas bonus should rise to £180, campaign says

But, as David Kirkwood, who started a petition entitled Adjust the £10 DWP Christmas Bonus introduced in 1972 to reflect inflation says, the one-off tax-free £10 doesn't go as far now as it should.

He says: "In the early 1970s, £10 was a valuable uplift for those without income, to help with the increased costs associated with Christmas time. It would have helped towards paying for heating and electricity, food and drinks or Christmas presents for kids.

"It would have been the equivalent of approximately £180 today adjusted for inflation. £10 today won't even buy a round of drinks, wouldn't pay for a quality Christmas pudding or buy a box of decent Christmas Crackers. £10 quite frankly is insulting."

The petition can be signed here.

Who is eligible for the DWP £10 Christmas bonus?

To get a Christmas Bonus people must be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, which is usually the first week of December, and receive at least one of the following benefits:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer Support Payment
• 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 Age Disability Payment
• Pension Credit - the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
• State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
• 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

The good news is that people do not need to claim the bonus, it will arrive automatically in the bank accounts of those eligible.

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If you think you should get it, but have not by January 1, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service.

Those who have not claimed their state pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits will not get a Christmas Bonus.

Those who are married, in a civil partnership, or living together and who receive one of the qualifying benefits, are each entitled to receive a Christmas Bonus payment.