The Department for Work and Pensions will be sending out Christmas bonuses to benefits claimants this year.

The one-off payment of £10 is usually paid automatically into bank accounts and may show up as DWP XB on statements.

To receive the bonus, you should be resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week, which is usually the first full week of December.

You also have to receive at least one of the following benefits:

Adult Disability Payment

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Carer Support Payment

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 Age Disability Payment

Pension Credit – the guarantee element

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)

Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

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

If you haven’t claimed your State Pension and aren’t entitled to one of the qualifying benefits above, then you won’t get the bonus. For those who do qualify for it, you don’t need to claim it as it should be paid automatically.

Married couples, those in a civil partnership or cohabiting – under certain circumstances – will receive a payment each if both are receiving one of the qualifying benefits.

For anyone who thinks they are entitled to it, but who hasn’t received it by January 1, contact the local Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments.

You can also contact the Pension Service by phone on 0800 731 0469 or write to them at: The Pension Service, Post Handling Site A, Wolverhampton. WV98 1AF.