One man has labelled the DWP’s Christmas Bonus as ‘insulting’ to those claiming benefits
Many People across the country will have already received this year’s Christmas Bonus payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The £10 annual bonus payment is provided to some people claiming eligible benefits and while it may be a small welcoming gift for some, others argue that it’s too small of a gift.
Initially, the payment was introduced in 1972 when it was the same £10 payment that it is today. While back then it may have been a more significant payment, some are arguing that nowadays, the small payment is simply ‘insulting’ to those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Because of this, a new online peteition is arguing that the Christmas Bonus should be adjusted and increased to be in-line wwith inflation, effectivly arguing for an increase of 1,700%. The petition posted on the Parliament Petitions website, headlined ‘Adjust the £10 DWP Christmas Bonus introduced in 1972 to reflect inflation’, has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures at the time of writing.
David Kirkwwood, who created the petition, wrote in the petition: “Adjust the Christmas Bonus given to benefit claimants, from £10 – when it was introduced in 1972 – to reflect inflation (approx £180 in 2025). Make the uplift only available for British citizens, who have been claiming benefits for a minimum of 6 months.”
He added: “In the early 1970s, £10 was a valuable uplift for those without income, to help with the increased costs associated with Christmas time. It would have helped towards paying for heating and electricity, food and drinks or Christmas presents for kids.
“It would have been the equivalent of approximately £180 today adjusted for inflation. £10 today won’t even buy a round of drinks, wouldn’t pay for a quality Christmas pudding or buy a box of decent Christmas Crackers. £10 quite frankly is insulting.”
While thousands have already signed the petition in support of the argument, it needs at least 10,000 signatures to trigger a government response and 100,000 signatures to spark a potential debate in Parliament. The only time the Christmas Bonus saw any change in payments was in 2008 during the financial crisis when it was temporarily raised to £70.
Who is eligible for the Christmas Bonus?
In order to receive thee Christmas Bonus, claimants must already be getting payments for one of the following benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- 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
Full details of David Kirkwood’s petition can be found online here.
