Overview

• Nearly 24 million people on DWP benefits, including 13 million pensioners but excluding Universal Credit claimants, qualify for the one-off £10 bonus
• Claimants must hold one of 23 specified benefits during the first full week of December and meet UK residency requirements to receive the payment
• The bonus will arrive as a separate, tax-free credit shown as “DWP XB” on bank statements with no application required
• Introduced in 1972 at £10, the bonus has never been uprated and now represents less than one-tenth of its original value in today’s terms
• Married couples or civil partners each get the bonus if both claim a qualifying benefit, and partners may qualify under specific residency or entitlement rules