DWP outlines Winter Fuel, Christmas Bonus and State Pension age rise

The Department for Work and Pensions said it will shortly begin winter payments and confirmations that will affect millions of households: a 10 Christmas bonus for qualifying benefit recipients is due in early December, letters outlining Winter Fuel Payments of up to 300 will be sent to around nine million pensioners in October, and the State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67 from next year for those born in certain years. The announcements set out eligibility rules and timings as the DWP prepares to process the seasonal cash support and notify people of a significant pension-age change.

The Christmas bonus, a one-off 10 payment that was introduced in 1972, will be paid automatically to people claiming eligible benefits during the qualifying week, normally the first full week of December. Personal Independence Payment recipients are among those who will receive the payment. The cash is tax free, will not affect other benefits, and should appear on bank statements as DWP XB. Critics and some recipients have long argued the flat 10 sum is inadequate amid rising household costs; the payment was briefly raised to 70 in 2008 during the financial crisis but reverted to 10 the...