Thousands of state pensioners could be in line for a one-off Christmas bonus payment. The Christmas bonus was introduced by former Conservative Prime Minister Ted Heath in 1972.

Since then, it has not increased since its launch, and in today’s money, it would be worth around £118. But to qualify for the bonus, you need to meet specific requirements, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact eligible claimants in December. Almost 24 million people across Britain now receive at least one benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The figure includes 13 million pensioners claiming the State Pension, eight million on Universal Credit and 3.8 million receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, many people, including new pensioners and those receiving disability benefits such as the Pension Age Disability Payment or Adult and Child Disability Payments, may not realise they’re entitled to a yearly bonus paid out before Christmas.

There’s no need to apply. The extra £10 will be paid directly into the same account as your usual benefit or pension, normally showing as ‘DWP XB’ on your bank statement.

Qualifying benefits

You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the qualifying week:

• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer Support Payment (Scotland only)
• Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
• 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 (Scotland only)
• Pension Credit – the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scotland only)
• 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

But not every single person over state pension age will get the payment, as DWP guidance says: “If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus.”