The annual \u00a310 payment is made automatically before Christmas, but only to those that claim qualifying benefits. These include carer\u2019s allowance, personal independence payment (PIP)<\/a>, and pension credit. However, those claiming universal credit as a standalone benefit<\/a> are not eligible.<\/p>\n Guidance from the government states: “The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free \u00a310 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim – you should get paid automatically.”<\/p>\n The payment will usually arrive in bank accounts with the reference \u2018XB\u2019 or \u2018DWP XB\u2019.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Thousands of benefit claimants are set to receive the Christmas bonus from the DWP this winter (John Stillwell\/PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n Eligible claimants must be in receipt of one of the following benefits<\/a> in the first week of December in order to qualify, as well as \u201cordinarily resident\u201d in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar.<\/p>\n Those eligible are recipients of any of the following:<\/p>\n Adult Disability Payment<\/a>Armed Forces Independence PaymentAttendance AllowanceCarer\u2019s AllowanceCarer Support PaymentChild Disability PaymentConstant 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 AllowanceIncapacity Benefit at the long-term rateIndustrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)Mobility SupplementPension Age Disability PaymentPension Credit – the guarantee elementPersonal Independence Payment (PIP<\/a>)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 ageWar Widow\u2019s PensionWidowed Mother\u2019s AllowanceWidowed Parent\u2019s AllowanceWidow\u2019s Pension<\/p>\n Couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting (in certain circumstances), will both receive a payment<\/a> if both are receiving one of these qualifying benefits.<\/p>\n The government<\/a> has been urged to boost the bonus in recent years, with the \u00a310 sum remaining unchanged since 1972. This means it has degraded by over \u00a3100 after decades of inflation. To date, no plans have been announced to change the payment level.<\/p>\n There are also several key dates for benefit claimants to be aware of around the Christmas<\/a> season, which will change when payments are received.<\/p>\n![\"Thousands](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/c6052b81d8dee07b4c6b349ee17b39d7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYxNjY1OTQy-2.80132787.jpg\")
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