£10 "Xmas Bonus"

[davebro3]

Just got my tenner from the gov - bloody pointless, why didn't they cancel it along with the WFP. Tough decisions needed!

[barry1010]

I'll have it if you don't want it, Dave.

[barry1010]

Taking the WFA off pensioners who don't get pension credit is one thing; many perceive pensioners to be well off.

Taking £10 off poor families with children;  disabled adults and children; those claiming sickness benefit; disabled forces veterans; war widows;  widowed mothers; carers is another.

The amount of people that get it is astonishing 

[newmodarmy]

Yes- it's been £10 for over 50 years since it was introduces in 1972.  If it had kept place with prices it'd be around £150 now.

It's not just pensioners who are eligible. The full eligibility list is as follows.  I suppose that  fair proportion of them would be considered needy and, unlike better off pensioners, would generally be Labour supporters. It'd probably cost more than it saves to means test it for pensioners.

Eligibility- You must also get at least one of the following benefits in the ‘qualifying week’ - this is normally the first full week of December:

Adult Disability Payment

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Attendance Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Carer Support Payment

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 Supplement

Pension Age Disability Payment

Pension Credit - the guarantee element

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

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

 

[newmodarmy]

Sorry Barry, yours wasn't there when I started to type mine. I hadn't realised how slow I am at thinking and typing.

[barry1010]

No problem, nma. Your list is clearer and more comprehensive.

People in receipt of multiple qualifying benefits get one £10 payment. 

[newmodarmy]

Yes, but the gov.uk website acknowledges that some will receive two in error as it says

"If you get more than one Christmas Bonus, contact the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your payments or the Pension Service."

It doesn't seem worth the efoort of collecting back any overpaid tenners.

[barry1010]

They will collect overpaid pennies, I know from experience.

[davebro3]

🤣 I've told this before. Coming home from school I paid the usual fare but due to route changes the bus went one stop further so I stayed on. An inspector caught me but I didn't have any more money on me, I gave him my name & address. A couple of days later he called at my house to collect two pennies. He missed the return bus & would have had to walk a mile to resume his duties! 

[barry1010]

My dad collected payments as part of his second, part time job.

Every week he would spend more time balancing the books, looking for the missing penny or two, than he did on his rounds. Any shortfall came out of his pay.

[douglas9401]

I don't know if it's a lack of joined-up thinking or simply a pat on the head for proles from our leaders.

The current buying power of what was once a decent amount makes the whole thing a farce though.