UK DWP rolls out £10 Christmas bonus and free TV licence for eligible pensioners

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will issue a one‑off, tax‑free £10 Christmas bonus to claimants of 24 specific benefits – including State Pension, Personal Independence Payment and various disability and care allowances – who are present in the UK during the qualifying week in early December. Eligible claimants will receive the payment automatically, without needing to apply, and it will appear as a separate transaction on their bank statements.

In addition, the DWP confirmed that state pensioners aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit will be entitled to a free BBC TV licence, valued at £180 per year. The concession is part of the broader £6 billion boost to state pension and pensioner benefits planned for 2026‑27 and applies only to those meeting the low‑income and age criteria.

Both measures affect millions of benefit claimants across the United Kingdom, reinforcing existing support schemes for older and disabled households.