New calls for ‘insulting’ DWP payment to rise by 1,700 per cent | Personal Finance | Finance

Many people across the country have already received this year’s Christmas Bonus payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The annual £10 bonus payment is given to some people claiming eligible benefits, and while it may be a small token of goodwill for some, others argue that it’s too small a gift.

The payment was first introduced in 1972 when it was the same £10 payment that it is today. While it might have been a more substantial payment back then, some are now arguing that the small payment is simply ‘insulting’ to those grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.

As a result, a new online petition is calling for the Christmas Bonus to be adjusted and increased in line with inflation, effectively arguing for an increase of 1,700%. The petition, posted on the Parliament Petitions website under the title ‘Adjust the £10 DWP Christmas Bonus introduced in 1972 to reflect inflation’, has attracted nearly 3,000 signatures at the time of writing.

David Kirkwood, who initiated the petition, wrote: “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 continued: “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.”

Whilst thousands have already backed the petition supporting this argument, it requires a minimum of 10,000 signatures to prompt a government response and 100,000 signatures to potentially trigger a Parliamentary debate. The Christmas Bonus has only seen one amendment since its introduction – a temporary increase to £70 in 2008 during the financial crisis.

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.