Millions on state pension to get bonus payment before Christmas

MILLIONS connected the authorities pension are successful enactment for a festive currency boost this winter.

The Government pays retired a tax-free "Christmas Bonus" to millions connected benefits each twelvemonth including authorities pensioners.

The one-off outgo is worthy £10 and usually transferred into your bank relationship conscionable earlier December 25.

The bonus is designed to screen further costs associated with Christmas and was archetypal introduced successful 1972.

The other cash mightiness not beryllium a lot, but each small helps with the emblematic energy measure to emergence from £1,568 a twelvemonth to £1,717 a twelvemonth from October 1 - a £149 summation - erstwhile Ofgem's caller terms headdress comes into effect.

One cardinal happening to enactment astir the £10 Christmas Bonus is that it won't interaction immoderate different benefits you are receiving, similar Pension Credit.

Here is everything you request to cognize astir the payment, however to assertion it and who other qualifies beyond authorities pensioners.

Who is eligible and however to claim

Anyone who is receiving a state pension successful what is known arsenic the "qualifying week" should get the £10 payment.

The qualifying week is usually the archetypal afloat week of December, which this twelvemonth is December 1 - December 8.

You'll besides request to live, oregon beryllium a resident, of 1 of the pursuing countries:

• The UK
• The Channel Islands
• The Isle of Man
• Gibraltar
• Switzerland
• Any European Economic Area (EEA) country

If you are of authorities pension property but not presently claiming it, for illustration if you deferred it, you won't get the bonus.

If you're eligible for the payment, you won't person to marque a assertion and conscionable person to beryllium choky and hold arsenic it is paid automatically.

It is paid into the aforesaid relationship wherever you usually person your pension payments.

But inactive support an oculus connected your relationship implicit December to marque definite you've received it.

The outgo should amusement up successful your slope connection arsenic "DWP XB".

If you deliberation you suffice but don’t person a outgo automatically, you should interaction your local Pension Centre.

You tin find your nearest centre, including its telephone fig and address, by going connected the Government's website.

Who other is eligible for the bonus?

You volition suffice for the Christmas Bonus if you person astatine slightest 1 of the pursuing benefits successful the qualifying week:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Child Disability Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance (paid nether Industrial Injuries oregon War Pensions schemes)
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main signifier of the payment is entered aft the archetypal 13 weeks of claim)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit astatine the semipermanent rate
• Industrial Death Benefit (for widows oregon widowers)
• Mobility Supplement
• Pension Credit - the warrant element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
• Unemployability Supplement oregon Allowance (paid nether Industrial Injuries oregon War Pensions schemes)
• War Disablement Pension astatine State Pension age
• War Widow’s Pension
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension

You won't person the Christmas Bonus if you are conscionable connected Universal Credit.

Other assistance for pensioners this Christmas

Hundreds of thousands of authorities pensioners volition suffice for a Winter Fuel Payment worthy up to £300.

The Government has changed the eligibility criteria for the outgo meaning it is present means-tested.

That means lone those connected definite benefits, including Pension Credit, volition qualify, but it is inactive 1 mode for immoderate to get assistance this winter.

If you aren't already claiming Pension Credit, it is decidedly worthy checking if you suffice too.

As a minimum, you indispensable unrecorded in England, Scotland or Wales and person reached authorities pension age.

But a large perk of the payment is that it opens up a raft of different help, including a escaped TV licence.

It will, of course, mean you suffice for the Winter Fuel Payment this fiscal twelvemonth too.

Here are each the perks you could get from the benefit.

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