By Indigo Jones,Levi Winchester
Copyright walesonline
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to distribute a Christmas bonus to millions of benefit recipients in the coming weeks. The festive payment amounts to £10 and has faced widespread criticism in recent years, with many branding it an “insult” to struggling households amid soaring costs and inflation. You can read more about how this year the DWP will dish out £1,085 to eligible Brits in Christmas cash spree, here. Since its introduction by the DWP in 1972 , the bonus has remained unchanged at £10, with the exception of a temporary increase to £70 in 2008 during the economic downturn, before reverting to its original amount the following year. To qualify for the DWP Christmas bonus , recipients must be claiming one of the eligible benefits during the qualifying week. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . While the exact date of this year’s payment has not yet been announced, it is likely to be within the qualifying week of December 1-5. The qualifying benefits include: To qualify, individuals must be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the specified qualifying week. The bonus is paid automatically, so there’s no need to apply, and it will appear as “DWP XB” on bank statements. The bonus is tax-free and won’t impact any other benefits. For couples who are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting, both partners can receive the Christmas bonus if they each claim one of the qualifying benefits. If only one partner receives a qualifying benefit, the other may still be eligible for the bonus if they meet the following criteria: Additionally, one of these conditions must be met
