DWP issues update after thousands call for Christmas Bonus to rise to £165 after Winter Fuel Payment cuts
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has reacted to growing demands from over 20,600 individuals who have signed a petition urging the Christmas bonus to be raised from £10 to £165.
The bonus, which has not changed since it was first implemented in 1972, is awarded to millions of individuals receiving benefits throughout the UK.
Advocates are urging for a substantial increase in payments to account for years of inflation, especially since many recipients are experiencing heightened financial strain during the holiday season.
The DWP stated that it is now "taking prompt measures" to tackle worries about the level of poverty.
Shona McMahon, the person who started the petition, pointed out the significant financial difficulties faced by benefit recipients during the holiday season, particularly following reductions in Winter Fuel Payments.
She expressed, "Christmas is the costliest season of the year! Those on pensions, individuals in vulnerable situations, and disabled people like me could really use some extra support during this time, especially since aid for energy costs has been cut."
The Department detailed a number of actions being taken to tackle these issues.
It was surprising to discover that the '£10 Christmas Bonus' has remained unchanged for more than fifty years.
In reply to the petition, a representative from the DWP stated: "We are swiftly implementing measures to address the troubling situation we currently confront, as there are now more individuals living in poverty than there were 14 years ago."
The Department has detailed a number of actions that are currently being put in place to tackle these issues.
The spokesperson went on to say that this encompasses actions such as prolonging the Household Support Fund to assist those in need, initiating efforts to create a plan aimed at decreasing child poverty, and beginning the process of providing a true living wage for employees.
The petition stated: "The Christmas bonus provided by the DWP for those receiving benefits is only £10, which is hardly sufficient to cover holiday expenses."
It's almost disrespectful to receive such a tiny sum of money - just 76p in today's terms - especially when so many of us are struggling to make ends meet and constantly worry about having our benefits reviewed or taken away. Those who are disabled or living on a low income deserve much more.
In 2008, due to the financial crisis, the payment was temporarily raised to £70, but it returned to £10 the next year.
The £10 Christmas bonus is automatically given to those who qualify at the beginning of December, and recipients should receive the funds by December 31 at the latest.
The tax-exempt payment shows up as "DWP XB" in your bank statements and does not have an impact on any other benefits you receive.
To be eligible, recipients need to be receiving qualifying benefits in the first complete week of December. This includes the State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, and Carer's Allowance.
To qualify, applicants need to be in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, or have made that area their usual home during the qualifying week.
Married couples, civil partners, or people who are cohabiting can both qualify for the bonus as long as they meet the necessary requirements.
