Universal Credit Christmas bonus: When will you get yours?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed people who get Universal Credit will receive a bonus payment for Christmas. Claimants will see an extra £10 go into their account as the festive period edges closer. The bonus will be easily recognisable in claimants’ bank accounts as it will come under the reference DWP XB.

To be eligible for the bonus, you must live in either the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area country, or Switzerland.

Claimants must have been claiming during the qualifying week of December 7 to December 13.

Eligible claimants will automatically receive the money, which means you won’t need to make an individual claim to the DWP.

If you’re part of a married couple or civil partnership and are living together, with both of you claiming one of the qualifying benefits, you’ll each get a Christmas bonus.

READ MORE: Universal Credit UK: Claimants may be able to ‘rebuild savings’

When will you get your Christmas bonus?

The DWP has already started paying out people’s Christmas bonuses for the year.

Eligible claimants can expect to receive their bonus payment from the DWP any time between now and Christmas Eve, December 24.

Some people received their bonuses as early as Friday, December 11.

Alongside the bonus, claimants can expect a letter from the DWP, although this may arrive after the money has been put in your account.