Millions of UK Benefit Claimants to Get £10 Christmas Bonus

Millions of eligible benefit claimants across the United Kingdom will receive a one-off £10 Christmas Bonus payment from the Department for Work and Pensions in early December, providing a small financial boost ahead of the holiday season.

The payment, which is tax-free and does not affect other benefits, targets individuals receiving specific qualifying benefits during the first full week of December, typically the week beginning December 2. Eligible benefits include Carers Allowance, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment, and more than 20 others, such as Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Claimants of Universal Credit alone do not qualify. The bonus is issued automatically, requiring no application, and should appear in bank accounts with a reference such as "XB" or "DWP XB." Officials expect the funds to arrive several weeks before Christmas, though an exact date is not guaranteed.

Residency requirements stipulate that recipients must be present or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. For couples, including those married, in civil partnerships, or cohabiting, each partner...