Should the £10 DWP Christmas bonus be elevated – vote in our ballot

More than 16,000 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to increase the ‘ludicrous’ £10 Christmas Bonus – and we want to know what YOU think.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands the one-off payment to pensioners, vulnerable people and carers ahead of Christmas to help with financial costs. However, the bonus has been slammed by many as it has not risen since it was introduced under Pensioners’ and Family Income Supplement Payments Act in 1972.

The Change.org petition, which was launched by Shona McMahon last year, has called for the bonus to increase in line with inflation. According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), this figure would be a hefty £165.36 if it had risen accordingly.

A total of 22 benefits are eligible for the £10, tax-free payment, including those on state pension, disability living allowance, and carer’s allowance. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing pressure to increase the state pension bonus to £200 after stripping around 10 million retirees of their Winter Fuel Payments.

At the moment around 11.4 million qualify, but this will be reduced to 1.5 million who meet the criteria. The move will save the Treasury around £1.4billion this financial year. The DWP hasn’t officially given a date for when the automatic Christmas bonus will be paid for this year, but those commenting on the petition are not impressed.

One person wrote: “It needs to be in line with inflation. Always been £10 since I was young, I’m now 61. It can help a lot when we are faced with xmas shopping if raised.”

Another penned: “£10 is an insult and given the cut in winter fuel allowance for the majority of 10 million pensioners who are above the threshold but by no means well off, it is the very least the government can do.”

While a third added: “£10 doesn’t even buy a full Christmas dinner and pudding and we all deserve to have a Christmas dinner and some presents for the children.” Do you think the £10 DWP Christmas bonus should be increased? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.