DWP Christmas Bonus Payment Set for December 2024
- The Christmas bonus has been paid to benefit households in the UK since 1972 to assist with festive season expenses.
- Eligible benefits for the bonus include various pensions and allowances, but Universal Credit recipients do not qualify.
- The bonus aims to provide financial support during a period of increased expenses, with the payment date usually occurring in early December.
In December, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK will distribute its annual Christmas bonus to eligible benefit claimants. This initiative has been in place since 1972, created to support households during the financially demanding holiday season. The current bonus amount is £10, with a history of only one increase, which was instituted by the Labour government in 2008 amid the financial crisis. During this period, the bonus was raised to £70 to aid struggling households. Benefits that qualify for the Christmas bonus include several types of pensions and allowances, such as the state pension, attendance allowance, and personal independence payment, among others. However, individuals claiming Universal Credit, which constitutes about 6.7 million people in the UK, do not qualify for this bonus. This decision underscores the government's targeted assistance approach, focusing on traditional allowances. To qualify for the bonus, recipients must be claiming benefits during the qualifying week, typically the first full week of December, although the DWP has yet to confirm the specific dates for this year. Those who have deferred their state pension and do not receive other qualifying benefits will not receive the payment either, adding another layer of eligibility criteria. Overall, the Christmas bonus serves as a financial relief measure for many households in the UK, encouraging timely applications and adherence to specified eligibility requirements to ensure support during the holiday season.