Each year, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives eligible people a small helping hand in the form of a £10 Christmas Bonus. It’s not a huge amount, but every bit counts during December—especially when you’re juggling festive shopping, food costs, and rising bills. But what happens if the bonus hasn’t landed in your account yet? Here’s everything you need to know and what steps you can take.
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Overview
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment. It’s usually sent out during the first full week of December to those receiving certain qualifying benefits. The best part? You don’t need to apply—it should show up automatically.
The bonus will typically appear in your bank account with the reference ‘DWP XB’ or ‘XB’.
But if yours hasn’t arrived yet, don’t worry. Payment delays or disruptions—especially around bank holidays—are common. Here’s how to check if you’re eligible, what might have caused the delay, and what to do next.
Eligibility
To receive the bonus, you need to be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week (the first full week of December). You also need to be receiving one of the qualifying benefits listed below:
Qualifying Benefits
| Qualifying Benefits Include: |
|---|
| State Pension |
| Pension Credit (guarantee element) |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) |
| Disability Living Allowance |
| Attendance Allowance |
| Carer’s Allowance |
| Severe Disablement Allowance |
| Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate) |
| Contribution-based ESA (main phase) |
| War Widow’s Pension |
| War Disablement Pension |
| Armed Forces Independence Payment |
| Industrial Injuries/Death Benefits |
| Mobility Supplement |
| Unemployability Supplement/Allowance |
| Child/Adult Disability Payments (Scotland) |
| Carer Support Payment |
If you and your partner both receive qualifying benefits, you’ll each get £10. If your partner doesn’t qualify but you’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, they may still be eligible.
Missed?
Haven’t received your payment yet? First, check your bank account for a reference like DWP XB. If there’s no sign of it by January 1, it’s time to take action.
The bonus should have been sent automatically, but occasionally issues do crop up—especially around the holidays when Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day are bank holidays. These can disrupt normal payment schedules.
Delays
This year, Christmas Day falls on a Thursday and Boxing Day on Friday. Both are bank holidays, so if your payment was due on or around those dates, it may be processed earlier or delayed slightly depending on your usual payment day and the type of benefit you receive.
The DWP has stated that if your benefit payment falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. So, for example, if your usual payment day was December 25, the money could have been paid as early as December 24.
Action
If you haven’t received the bonus by January 1, and you think you’re eligible, here’s what to do:
- Contact the Jobcentre Plus
Get in touch with the office that handles your benefit. You can call or write to them. Use the local office search on the GOV.UK website to find their contact details. - Contact the Pension Service
If you’re a pensioner, reach out to the Pension Service. Their address and contact info should also be on any letters you’ve received about your pension. - Have your info ready
When you contact them, make sure you have your National Insurance number, details of your benefit, and bank account info ready to speed up the process.
Reminder
You don’t need to claim the Christmas Bonus—it should be processed and paid automatically if you qualify. If you haven’t received it, it’s not because you missed an application. The most common causes of a missing bonus are delays due to bank holidays or a system error with your benefits.
It may only be £10, but it’s yours—and in times like these, every little bit helps. So if the payment hasn’t arrived, don’t just brush it off. Get in touch with the right department and make sure you get what you’re entitled to.
FAQs
When is the DWP Christmas Bonus paid?
Usually the first full week of December.
Do I need to apply for the bonus?
No, it’s paid automatically if you qualify.
What reference shows on my bank?
Look for ‘DWP XB’ or just ‘XB’.
Who do I contact if I don’t get it?
Call Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service.
Can both partners get the bonus?
Yes, if both get qualifying benefits or meet age rules.
