What is the Christmas Bonus?

A tax-free bonus will be paid out with your State Retirement
Pension shortly before Christmas each year, regardless of how your pension is made up. At the moment, this bonus is £10. You do not need to claim it, as it should be paid automatically with your pension. If you are receiving another qualifying benefit such as Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance you will not receive a Christmas bonus for those benefits as well. If you are part of a couple you can claim an extra bonus of £10 if your partner has not received a bonus in their own right and:

• you are both over state pension age and you are entitled to an increase in your benefit for your partner; or
  
• you are both over state pension age and the only benefit you receive is Pension Credit.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

Every household which includes someone aged 60 or more
will get a Winter Fuel Payment to help towards fuel bills. The
payment depends on the age of the people living there. This year, for a household with someone over 60 living there, it is £200 plus a one-off additional payment of £50. If you are 80 or over your household will receive £300 this year, plus a one-off additional payment of £100. If you are a couple you will each
receive half the Winter Fuel Payment. Your household may receive more than these amounts if there are more than two eligible claimants living there. This payment is not means-tested or taxable and will not affect any benefits that you may already be claiming.

People who are claiming a social security benefit, or State
Retirement Pension, or have received a Winter Fuel Payment
in previous years will receive their payment automatically.
It should be paid before Christmas, directly into your bank
or building society account, or by cheque sent to your home.
However, if you do not claim any pension or benefits and
have never received a Winter Fuel Payment contact the
Winter Fuel Payments helpline on 08459 15 15 15 to
find out about claiming. To qualify for a payment you must have been born on 23 September 1948 or earlier (or 23 September 1928 or earlier for the over-80s amount).