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Bonus
The Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment paid, before Christmas, to customers who are getting one or more qualifying benefits.
It is dealt with by Job Centre Plus - you can find your local office here
You must be entitled to at least one of these benefits on the first Monday in December, to claim a Christmas bonus.
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Incapacity Benefit at the Long-term rate
Income Support (from age 65 (man) and 60 (woman))
Industrial Death Benefit
Invalid Care Allowance
Mobility Supplement
Retirement Pension
Severe Disablement Allowance
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
War Disablement Pension (if aged 65)
War Widow's Pension
Widow's Pension
Widowed Mother's Allowance
Widowed Parent's Allowance
How to claim?
The bonus is paid automatically in most cases.
How much is it?
Rate of Christmas bonus: £10.00
How is it paid?
By Girocheque or by increasing the amount of benefit payable by the amount of the Christmas Bonus in the specified week, usually the week beginning with the first Monday in December.
How long is it paid for?
One payment per entitled customer per year. A couple (married or unmarried) may receive two payments where both are entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit.
An additional bonus may be paid for a married or unmarried partner provided:
• they are both over pensionable age by the end of the relevant
week
• the couple are living together as husband and wife
and either:
• the customer is entitled to a payment of an increase of the qualifying
benefit for the other member of the couple
or:
• the only qualifying benefit is Income Support