Eligibility
To get a Christmas Bonus you must be a resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. You must also be entitled to at least one of the following benefits in the qualifying week - normally the first full week of December:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- 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
- 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 if over State Pension age
- War Widow's Pension
- Widowed Mother's Allowance
- Widowed Parent's Allowance
- Widow's Pension
You will not qualify for the Christmas Bonus on the basis of State Pension entitlement if you are deferring your State Pension claim.
What you'll get
Christmas Bonus is normally a one-off payment of £10.
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together as if you are and you both get one of the qualifying benefits, you’ll each get a Christmas Bonus payment.
If your partner or civil partner doesn’t get one of the qualifying benefits, they may still get the Christmas Bonus if both of the following apply:
- you’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week
- your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, EEA country or Switzerland during the qualifying week
and either:
- you’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner
- the only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit
How it's paid
Christmas Bonus is usually paid directly into your bank, credit union, building society, Post Office or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payment.
Effect on benefits
The Christmas Bonus payment won't affect other benefits you may be getting.
How to claim
You don't need to claim Christmas Bonus - you should get it automatically. If you think you qualify for the payment but haven't got it, contact the benefit office that deals with your payments.
- Jobs & Benefits offices and Social Security offices
- Northern Ireland Pension Centre
- Disability and Carers Service
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Centre
- Incapacity Benefits Branch
- Industrial Injuries Branch