The exact code to spot when the £10 Christmas bonus lands in bank accounts has been revealed
For people who meet the criteria, the money is usually paid automatically by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) which means you do not have to apply.
However, if you are not sure if you have received the payment before, check on your bank statements for a code which says « DWP XB ».
To get the money you usually need to be claiming benefits before the qualifying week, which is typically the first week of December.
The full list of benefits which make you eligible for the bonus include:
Mobility Supplement
Pension Credit – the guarantee element
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
Adult Disability Payment
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Carer Support Payment
Child Disability Payment
War Disablement Pension at State Pension Age
War Widow’s Pension
Widowed Mother’s Allowance
Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Widow’s Pension
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 Benefits at the long-term rate
Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
The DWP says that if you think you should get it and the money has not come through by January 1, you must contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Significantly you could be entitled to the £10 payment in some cases even if you are not claiming benefits. This usually only applies if you are in a partnership, for example a marriage or civil partnership, and are claiming the State Pension.
Your partner may still get the £10 bonus if you are both over the State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week which usually starts on the first Monday of December.
In this instance, one of you will need to be claiming a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit. If this is the case than both partners will qualify for £10 and a payment of £20 will be made into the claimant’s bank account.
Another factor to bear in mind is the fact that claimants must be present or a resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Switzerland during the qualifying week.
Samuel Thomas, senior policy advisor at anti-poverty charity Z2K, previously told The Sun: “Many people are entitled to more financial support from the social security system than they realise.
« If you’re struggling financially, you should check whether you can claim any additional benefits or seek independent advice.”
If you are worried about costs this winter, make sure you’re aware of different support available to you. For example, councils are giving out up to £500 in cash and food grants via the Household Support Fund.
How to check your eligibility
For those who are unsure if they can get access to the bonus and other help, you can use an online benefits calculator.
These are free-to-use online tools which can be accessed at a number of websites.
For example, the charity Turn2Us’ has a benefits calculator that works out what you could get. Details can be found here.
Entitledto also has a free calculator that determines whether you qualify for various benefits, including tax credits and Universal Credit. Details can be found here.
You can also use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Details can be found here.
If you do not want to use an online calculator there are other options available. For example, you can also check with a local benefits adviser to find out what you could be entitled to.
The website https://advicelocal.uk/ lets you enter your postcode and informs you of your nearest adviser and how you can contact them.
