MILLIONS of pensioners are in line for a cash boost this winter.
Anyone receiving a state pension will receive what's known as a Christmas Bonus.
The one-off payment is tax free and usually transferred into your bank account just before December 25.
The bonus comes with the average household on a dual-fuel energy tariff forking out £1,834 a year on their bills.
Inflation is still stubbornly high too, pushing the cost of everyday essentials higher.
One key thing to note about the £10 Christmas bonus is that it won't impact any other benefits you are receiving, such as Pension Credit.
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Anyone receiving a state pension in the qualifying week will be in line for the £10 payment – normally the first week of December.
Who is eligible and how do I claim?
Anyone who is receiving a state pension in the qualifying week should get the £10 payment.
You'll also need to live, or be a resident, of one of the following countries:
- The UK
- The Channel Islands
- The Isle of Man
- Gibraltar
- Switzerland
- Any European Economic Area (EEA) country
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If you are of state pension age but not currently claiming it, for example if you deferred it, you won't get the bonus.
If you're eligible for the payment, you won't have to make a claim and just have to sit tight and wait.
You'll get it paid into the same account where you normally receive your pension payments.
But still keep an eye on your account over December to make sure you've received it.
The payment should show up in your bank statement as "DWP XB".
If you think you qualify but don’t receive a payment automatically, you should contact your local Pension Centre.
You can find your nearest centre, including its phone number and address, by going on the Government's website.
Who else is eligible for the Christmas bonus?
You won't receive the £10 Christmas bonus if you are just on Universal Credit.
But if you receive at least one of the following benefits in the qualifying week, you will be in line for the tax-free cash:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- 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 Credit – the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- 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
What other money can I get this Christmas?
Anyone born on or before September 25, 1957, could get an up to £600 payment this winter via a Winter Fuel payment.
Meanwhile, thousands on a low income are still missing out on Pension Credit, which could be worth £3,500 a year.
It's worth seeing if you can make a claim – all the information about how to and who is eligible is on the Government's website.
As a minimum, you must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached state pension age.
Pension Credit is known as a gateway benefit as well, meaning it opens up a raft of freebies.
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For example, if you're over 75 you might be able to apply for a free TV licence, worth £159 a year.
Here are all the perks you could get from the benefit.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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