DWP Christmas Bonus 2026 £10 payment, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to make a one-off tax-free Christmas payment of £10 to households across the UK in December, according to a report published by the Daily Express.
The bonus is paid to people receiving one of 24 qualifying benefits, including the State Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Pension Credit. Eligibility is based on receiving at least one qualifying benefit during the “qualifying week”, which is normally the first full week of December.
The payment has existed since 1972 and has not increased in line with inflation, meaning recipients in December 2026 will receive the same amount as those paid over the past 50 years. No claim is needed, as the DWP pays the bonus automatically into bank accounts.
To receive the payment, a person must also be present, or ordinarily resident, in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. Couples who both receive a qualifying benefit will each get a payment, and some partners may be eligible under specific conditions, including both being over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
The DWP has said that people who have not claimed the State Pension and are not entitled to another qualifying benefit will not receive the bonus. Anyone who believes they should have received it but has not by 1 January is advised to contact their Jobcentre Plus office or the Pension Service.
The payment is normally made into the same account as pension or other benefits and shows the payment reference “DWP XB” on bank statements.
