A recent £10 payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sparked confusion for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimant who wondered if it was a mistake.
Turning to Reddit for answers, the claimant shared their experience: “Why did I just get a payment of £10? For context, I have been receiving PIP and recently had a kidney transplant. I just received £10, but that’s it… Is it an error, or has anyone else only received this amount?”
The Reddit community quickly reassured them, explaining that the payment is actually the DWP’s annual Christmas Bonus. One user commented, “It’s Christmas bonus,” while another joked, “Stocking filler… A whopping ten quid. Don’t spend it all in one shop.”
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Others shared similar experiences, with one user noting, “I got this this morning too and wondered what it was.” Another user observed that the payments are staggered: “Not everyone gets it at the same time; I haven’t had mine yet either, so don’t worry!”
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 paid annually to certain benefit recipients around Christmas time. According to the Government, “The Christmas bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week.”
The qualifying week is typically the first full week of December. Importantly, recipients do not need to apply for this bonus — it is paid automatically provided they receive one of the eligible benefits during that week.
This small festive gesture has been welcomed by many as a timely boost during the holiday season.