The £10 DWP Christmas Bonus is automatically paid to UK residents, as well as those in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, who receive the State Pension or qualifying benefits (like Pension Credit, PIP, or Carer’s Allowance) during the "qualifying week"—typically the first week of December.
Pensioners can still receive the £10 payment if they also get a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, or a disability benefit. If you receive more than one qualifying benefit, you still only receive one bonus.
All officials and employees of the National Government who have rendered at least four months of service from January 1 to October 31 of each year and who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year shall each receive a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month basic salary and additional ...
1.5 million people will benefit including our pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, and lone parents. "People will receive their Bonus payment on the same day that they usually receive their weekly pension or other primary payment.
Who Will Receive the $1,100 Centrelink Bonus. The bonus will be automatically issued to eligible Australians receiving approved Centrelink payments. Those expected to qualify include: Age Pension recipients.
If you receive the new State Pension, the full amount you'll receive for the 2025/26 tax year will be £230.25 a week (compared to £221.20 a week for the 2024/25 tax year). You can claim the new State Pension if you're: a man born on or after 6 April 1951. a woman born on or after 6 April 1953.
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
🎁 This is a once-off double week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment. ℹ️ In 2025, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment. The minimum Bonus amount that will be paid is €20 📨 Normally you get the bonus with your regular social welfare payment, so you don't need to apply.
How much money can I have in the bank before it affects my pension? It depends on your total assessable assets. For example, homeowner couples can have up to $481,500 in combined assets, including bank balances, before their pension is reduced.
Eligibility for a Winter Fuel Payment
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) you must have reached State Pension age. WFP is an annual payment for households that include someone born on or before 21 September 1959 (for 2025-26).
Employees not eligible for bonuses
Companies or organisations with fewer than 20 employees do not need to pay bonuses. Employees earning more than ₹21,000 per month. Apprentices, workers hired through contractors, and public sector employees are excluded.
Access to end-of-year bonuses and holiday bonuses can depend on a worker's occupation. Notes: An end-of-year bonus is a payment made to employees near the end of the year, as a sign of appreciation for their hard work throughout the year. A holiday bonus is a payment made on a holiday and as a sign of appreciation.
Presidential Decree No. 851 exempted employees of any political subdivisions or government body from receiving the thirteenth month pay. Further, employees who cater to multiple employers are also not covered by the legislation.
There isn't a savings limit for Pension Credit. However, if you have over £10,000 in savings, this will affect how much you receive. If you're a mixed-age couple (meaning only one of you is over State Pension age), you normally have to claim Universal Credit until you've both reached State Pension age.
Christmas bonuses can vary based on factors like company, industry, employee tenure, performance, and employment type and are typically paid out in early to mid-December.
Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. You may qualify for this payment if you are aged 66 or older, or if you are receiving long-term social welfare payments and satisfy a means test.
How much money you can have in the bank before losing benefits depends entirely on the specific benefit program, with needs-based programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) having strict limits (around $2,000 for individuals) while earnings-based Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Retirement benefits typically have no asset limits. Other programs like SNAP (food stamps) or state Medicaid also have their own resource rules, so it's crucial to check your specific program's guidelines for its asset caps and exclusions.
Note:
You only get one £10 payment even if you receive more than one benefit, but couples can each get a £10 Christmas bonus if they both get a qualifying benefit. If you haven't claimed your state pension and are not entitled to any of the other qualifying benefits, you won't get the Christmas bonus.
A number of changes to social security payments, rates, and limits will commence from 20 September 2025. More than 5 million recipients will see more money in their bank account each fortnight, including over 2.6 million Age Pensioners.
What is the social welfare Christmas bonus? For 2025, the Christmas Bonus equalled 100% of the normal weekly payment for eligible long-term recipients. The Christmas Bonus was paid in the first week of December to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.
The basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% from April 2026.
Martin Lewis has issued a key state pension update during his Budget special on Thursday, 27 November. The state pension will rise by 4.8% in April 2026, meaning that the new state pension will increase to £12,547.60 a year — just below the frozen personal allowance tax threshold at £12,570.
According to the June 2025 Social Security trustees report, the fund reserves that help pay for Social Security benefits will be depleted in 2033. Benefits won't run out, but retirees would then only be able to receive 77% of their full benefits.