The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is being called to increase the Christmas Bonus payment in line with inflation.
The bonus is paid to people who get certain benefits in a specified qualifying week, which is normally the first full week of December.
The payment, introduced in 1972 at £10, was worth over £100 in today’s value. However, its amount has remained virtually unchanged for 52 years, drawing widespread criticism from benefit claimants and charities.
An online petition now urges the Government to “permanently” increase the payment in line with inflation, which would bring it to £115.08, according to the Bank of England’s calculator.
The petition, launched by Shona McMahon in 2023, reads: “Christmas is the most expensive time of year! Pensioners, the vulnerable & people like myself, disabled, could do with an extra boost at this time of year, especially as the energy assistance has been axed.
“It was shocking to learn that the ‘£10 Christmas Bonus’, has been the same for OVER FIVE DECADES!!”
The petition has gained more than 20,000 signatures so far.
Ms McMahon continued: “This isn’t asking for ‘just another handout’, this is for those of us that don’t have an option to earn anything extra.
“I implore you to sign & share this, if only because the government wouldn’t like their bonus to be stagnant for 51 years! Then we respectfully ask that our Christmas bonus be raised in line with inflation please, or more.” (sic)
Who is eligible for the DWP’s Christmas Bonus?
To get a Christmas Bonus, people must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. This is usually the first week of December.
They must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’:
- 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 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.
