DWP confirms payment schedule for Christmas Bonus - full list of qualifying benefits

This sum of money is given to those who claim certain benefit payments from the DWP during the qualifying week, which usually falls on the first week of December.

Anyone looking for a DWP Christmas Bonus should prepare to claim it at the beginning of next month.

The payment is delivered to the bank or building society that someone already receives their benefit entitlement into.

Confirmation of the payment schedule comes amid controversy over how much the bonus is currently worth.

Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

Poverty and disability rights campaigners have been calling on the Christmas Bonus to be worth more during the cost of living crisis.

More than 20,000 individuals have supported a petition demanding a raise, referencing recent changes to eligibility for support like the Winter Fuel Payment.

Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the allowance would be means-tested with Britons needing to be on Pension Credit to get the up to £300 in energy bill support.

This decision means that around 10 million pensioners will lose access to the Winter Fuel Payment despite Ofgem raising the energy price cap.

Shona McMahon stared a petition outlining her reasoning as to why the Christmas Bonus's payment rate should be bolstered.

She explained: "Christmas is the most expensive time of the year.

"Pensioners, the vulnerable and people like myself, disabled, could do with an extra boost at this time of year, especially as the energy assistance has been axed."

A DWP spokesperson said: "We know that Christmas is a time when people stretch their budgets, which is why we pay many people their benefits earlier than usual, helping them prepare for the festive period."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• State pension alert: Petition demands Waspi compensation as 300,000 die waiting for payout
• Pensioners on higher incomes could secure an extra £3,900 a year
• State pensioners could boot payments via HMRC tool - what to know before deadline

Here is a full list of qualifying DWP benefits a claimant needs to be on to receive the £10 Christmas Bonus:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer Support Payment
• 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 Age Disability Payment
• Pension Credit - the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• State pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
• 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.