Households alerted to Christmas cost of living bonus payment from DWP - who gets it

Special bonus payments from the DWP will soon be entering bank accounts up and down the country. The £10 Christmas Bonus is paid out to certain low-income households during December.

It's designed to provide a small boost during the most expensive time of the year for many families. But who exactly will be getting the payment?

The money will go out to people who receive a number of benefits, as well as state pensioners. Qualifying benefits include Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. The full list is below.

READ MORE: Households told date for £200 cost of living payments

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Those on Universal Credit as a standalone benefit, without any of those listed below, will not qualify.

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer Support Payment
• Child Disability Payment
• 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 Age Disability Payment
• 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)
• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
• War Widow’s Pension
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension

The Christmas Bonus has been paid out by the Government for years but criticism has grown lounder as the amount has not changed to match inflation and the increase in prices of daily essentials. Some now question the purpose of the payment when it is unlikely to go very far.

It can at least go towards a weekly shop or Christmas gifts for some of the poorest families at a time when budgets are even more stretched. Payments should enter bank accounts for those eligible just before Christmas.