Christmas Bonus :Cross Stitch – Money, tax and benefits

You may be able to get Christmas Bonus, the one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas. This is normally paid automatically to those customers getting a qualifying benefit in the qualifying week and who meet the residency conditions.

To get a Christmas Bonus you must be a resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any 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):

  • 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
  • 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

Please note, you will not qualify for the Christmas Bonus on the basis of State Pension entitlement if you are deferring your State Pension claim.

Christmas Bonus is normally a one-off payment of £10.

If you’re part of a married or unmarried couple or civil partnership and both of you are entitled to one of the qualifying benefits you’ll each get a Christmas Bonus payment.

Your partner or civil partner will also get payments if both the following apply:

  • you’re both over State Pension age by the start of the qualifying week
  • your partner or civil partner was also resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, EEA country or Switzerland at the start of 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

Christmas Bonus is usually paid directly into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payment.

If you’re registered blind or need someone who cares for you to collect your money, you’ll be sent a cheque to be cashed at the Post Office®.

The Christmas Bonus payment will not affect other benefits you may be getting.