Christmas Bonus?

Cloud

Hi. I wondered if anyone can tell me what the criteria for the Christmas bonus is?
I know people on PIP who get it every year.
Yet I have been on Pip for 3 years and I was previously onDLA for 10 years before being on pip. Yet I have never had a Christmas bonus. I often wondered why this is.

Sue_Atkinson_1209

I was on DLA previously for quite a while and was getting the Christmas Bonus of £10 but I've only just won the battle for PIP and haven't had a Christmas on it yet, I don't know if you only qualified before a certain time and they stopped doing it. It might be worth a phone call to find out.

poppy123456

HI,

PIP qualifies you for the Christmas bonus of £10. See link for criteria. https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility It's been in payment since around 1972.

Cloud

Thank you for your replies. It seems that I should qualify.
I first had dla in 2006 and still now get PIP. I've  always wanted to query why I never get it as I've missed 13 years of it altogether (£130) but I'm worried to ring in case it triggers anything else... I'm nervous of ringing to ask/challenge why. 

poppy123456

I'm not sure why you would think ringing DWP to query something will trigger anything else, it won't.

wilko

Hello I am claiming ESA support group and PIP, I have received my Christmas bonus on my last ESA payment, I did wonder why the £10 increase but realised it was the bonus when other people where enquiring about on the fourm. It's not going to make much difference, buy a few packs of Christmas cards, buy the postage stamps or mince pies. Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas remembering what we are celebrating, The birth of Jesus Christ. 

exdvr

It showed up as a separate payment DWP XB £10 on my bank statement a few days ago.  Every little helps as the saying goes.

poppy123456

It can either show as an extra payment separately or be added onto an existing benefit.

Cloud

Thank you all for your replies.
I tried the helpline yesterday but they don't answer the phone. I hung on for 1 hour 20 minutes. By then I had to give up as the music was giving me such a headache. (I have a neurological degenerative condition)
I tried again today for just over an hour again. They just don't answer the phones.
Is there an address I could write to and ask for an application to apply for it?
Although I also get esa support group, it has never been paid in with that either.
If I can write to the correct address I will ask for an application form and back pay.

poppy123456

There's no application form to apply for this because it should automatically be paid. Try ringing as soon as they open, i usually find that's the best time to ring.

Cloud

Thank you Poppy.
 Maybe I will try again then on Monday. Perhaps 3rd time lucky.
using telephones for long time aggravates my already head condition. That's why I thought best to write.

 The number I was continually holding on for was the pip helpline as there was no dwp general helpline.....only a 'new claims' phone number.
Am I ringing the right place/department then? As there was no telephone number for general enquirers.
many thanks for your help?

poppy123456

You're welcome. Personally, ringing DWP annoys most people because that music is enough to aggravate anyone

The PIP enquiry phone number is 0800 121 4433

For ESA its 0800 169 0310 Providing it's not New style ESA you're claiming. You can also ring ESA to ask about this bonus.

Are you sure it hasn't be included on top of your ESA? Sometimes it's included in an existing benefit and other times it's paid as a separate payment.

Cloud

Thank you Poppy for the numbers.
No, it's definitely not been added to esa.
ive never had it ever. In all of the 13 years of pip & previous dla