DWP benefit claimants slam 'insulting' £10 Christmas bonus

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has received criticism for not increasing the £10 Christmas bonus in over 50 years.

Claimants received the extra cash at the start of December. Originally, the payment was introduced in 1972 and has been £10 ever since, with one exception in 2008 when it was increased to £70 to support those suffering from the financial crash.

However, it went straight back to £10 just a year later. According to an inflation calculator from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the original £10 would be worth £113 today, the Mirror reports. Read more: DWP warning for couples claiming Universal Credit Read more: Residents on a cul-de-sac hit by Evri parcel mystery days before Christmas One reader from our sister paper the Mirror said: "It is an insult and a tick box exercise by the DWP to show they are not Scrooge.”Another commented: “The £10 Christmas bonus really is not enough. "It won't even heat a person's home for a week, and food prices such as a loaf of bread have risen drastically.” A third person emailed: “The £10 bonus does NOT help. "51 years is a long time without a raise.” In order to receive the Christmas bonus, claimants must have claimed one of the following benefits during the 'qualifying week': 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