DWP £10 Christmas Bonus 2025 – Payment Date, Qualifying Benefits & Eligibility

Published On: December 2, 2025

The festive season can bring financial strain for many households, especially those on a fixed income. To help ease the burden, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives a one-off £10 Christmas Bonus to millions of people receiving certain benefits. While small, this extra bit of cash is a tradition that dates back decades and is welcomed by many during the holidays.

If you’re wondering when the DWP pays the Christmas Bonus, who gets it, and what the requirements are, here’s everything you need to know.

Overview

The £10 Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment automatically given to individuals who receive qualifying benefits during a specific week in early December. You don’t need to apply — the DWP processes it automatically if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Amount: £10 (one-off)
Paid by: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
When: First full week of December
Eligibility: Must be receiving a qualifying benefit during the qualifying week
Where: Must be living in the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, or Gibraltar

You’ll see the payment appear in your bank statement with a reference like ‘DWP XB’ or simply ‘XB’.

Payment

The DWP does not set an exact day for when the Christmas Bonus will land in your account. However, it typically arrives in the first or second week of December, shortly after the qualifying week.

In 2025, this means the payment window should fall between 8 and 13 December, though some people may see it a little earlier or later depending on bank processing times.

There’s no need to apply or contact DWP — if you qualify, it will be paid automatically.

Eligibility

To receive the £10 Christmas Bonus, you must meet two main conditions:

Be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
Be receiving at least one of the eligible benefits during the qualifying week (which is usually the first full week of December).

If You’re a Couple

Both partners in a couple can receive the £10 bonus if both are receiving a qualifying benefit. If only one partner qualifies but both are over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, the non-qualifying partner may still receive the bonus, depending on the circumstances.

Benefits

Here’s the full list of qualifying benefits that make you eligible for the DWP Christmas Bonus:

Adult Disability Payment
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Carer Support Payment
Child Disability Payment
Constant Attendance Allowance (under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions)
Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (main phase)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Incapacity Benefit (long-term rate)
Industrial Death Benefit (for widows/widowers)
Mobility Supplement
Pension Age Disability Payment
Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element only)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions)
War Disablement Pension (at State Pension age)
War Widow’s Pension
Widowed Mother’s Allowance
Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Widow’s Pension

Exclusions

Notably, Universal Credit on its own does not qualify you for the Christmas Bonus. You would need to be receiving another eligible benefit in addition to Universal Credit to qualify.

Also, if you haven’t claimed your State Pension and aren’t on another qualifying benefit, you will not get the bonus.

If you think you received more than one bonus by mistake or have questions, the DWP suggests contacting Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service that handles your claim.