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The Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment paid to you if you are in receipt of one or more qualifying benefits. The payment is made before Christmas.
For 2008, an additional tax-free payment of £60 will be paid in addition to the normal Christmas Bonus. This will be paid to customers who were in receipt of a qualifying benefit in the week commencing 22 December 2008. This payment will be paid between January 2009 and March 2009.
You will be entitled to a bonus if during the relevant week you are present or ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or any other EEA country and are entitled to a payment, during that week, of one of the following benefits:
The bonus is paid automatically with the qualifying benefit in most cases.
You do not need to claim Christmas Bonus or the £60 additional payment - you will get them automatically. If you think that you qualify for the payment but have not received it speak to your local Social Security/Jobs & Benefits office or the Pension Service.
By increasing the amount of benefit payable by the amount of the Christmas Bonus in the specified week, usually the week beginning with the first Monday in December.
Christmas Bonus is paid directly into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payment.
If you are registered blind or need someone who cares for you to collect your payment you will be sent a cheque to be cashed at the Post Office®. For 2008 the additional £60 payment will be made in the same way.
Neither the Christmas Bonus or the additional £60 payment will affect other benefits you may be getting.
One payment per entitled customer per year.
£10.00
A couple (married or unmarried) or civil partnership may receive two payments where both are entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit.
An additional bonus may be paid for a married or unmarried partner provided:
- they are both over pensionable age by the end of the relevant week;
- the couple are living together as husband and wife; and
- either:
- the customer is entitled to a payment of an increase of the qualifying benefit for the other member of the couple; or
- the only qualifying benefit is Income Support.
For Christmas 2008:
An additional payment of £60 will be paid between January 2009 and March 2009.
If you are part of a marrid or unmarried couple or civil partnership and each partner is entitled to one of the qualifying benefits you will each get a Christmas Bonus payment and the additional £60 payment.
Your partner will also receive payment if both of the following apply:-
- you are both over State Pension age by the first Monday in December 08 (for the additional £60 payment you need to be over State Pension age by 22 December 08)
- your partner was also resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, EEA country or Switzerland in the first full week in December and either
- you are entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner or
- the only qualifying benefit you are getting is Pension Credit.
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