The UK resident would receive the Christmas Bonus from the Department for Work and Pensions this winter to offer a tax-free financial boost. The UK residents who are wondering about the bonus payout date can check out the full details here.
The Christmas Bonus is a one-time payment of £10 that the department made before Christmas to support the residents. The bonus was paid to people who received certain benefits from the DWP in the qualifying week.
The DWP pays the Christmas Bonus to the eligible recipients automatically through the way they receive their qualifying benefits. People have urged the government to increase the Christmas bonus, but it has been the same since 1972.
When to expect the DWP Christmas Bonus?
The DWP will process the Christmas Bonus of £10 to the eligible residents before Christmas, typically, the first week of December. So, keep an eye on the bank account where you receive your qualifying benefits.
The DWP Christmas bonus will reflect in your bank account in the first week of December 2025, and it may show up as “DWP XB” in your bank statement. So, if you are waiting for the Christmas bonus, do check if your bank account is valid or active, and do check your bank account during the payment timeline.
The DWP Christmas Bonus does depend on the qualifying benefit you receive, but it will not affect any other benefits you receive from the DWP.
Who will receive the Christmas Bonus?
The DWP will automatically process the Christmas Bonus to UK residents if they meet the following eligibility conditions:
- You should be living or ordinarily resident in the UK, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, the Channel Islands during the qualifying week, the first full week of December.
- You should at least receive the following benefits from the government during the qualifying week:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (after the benefit main phase has begun, after the 13th week of claim)
- Constance Attendance Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit
- PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance
- State Pension
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployment Supplement or Allowance
- War Widow’s Pension
- War Disablement Pension at state pension age
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Remember, if you do not receive any of the above benefits during the qualifying week, you will not receive the Christmas Bonus.
What if both partners qualify for the Christmas Bonus?
If you are a married couple or civil partners living together and receive one of the qualifying benefits, both partners will receive the Christmas Bonus. However, if one of you does not get the qualifying benefits, you may still receive the Christmas Bonus if both meet any of the following conditions:
- Both partners receive the State Pension by the end of the first full week of December 2025.
- You and your partner were present at the Channel Islands, the UK, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland during the qualifying week.
- You qualify for the Pension Credit, or you are entitled to receive the increase of the qualifying benefit.
What if you do not receive the DWP Christmas Bonus?
The DWP automatically processes the Christmas Bonus to the eligible recipients into their bank accounts when they receive their qualifying benefit, so there is no need to claim it. Now, if you think you are eligible for the bonus and do not receive it, you should take the following action:
- If you do not receive the Christmas Bonus by 01 January 2026, you should reach out to the Jobcentre Plus Office that oversees the Pension Services and your payments.
- You should reach out to the DWP and see if your bank account information is correct in the DWP records.
The DWP Christmas Bonus is just 21 days away, from 01 December 2025, the eligible recipients can expect the bonus payout in their account; however, you should be patient as it may take time, so at least wait till the first week of December 2025.
Disclaimer: The “DWP Christmas Bonus 2025 Payment” information is for general awareness only. Eligibility and payment timing are determined by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
