Hundreds of individuals throughout the UK have referred to as for an increase to the Division of Work and Pensions (DWP) Christmas bonus.
For greater than half a century, pensioners, susceptible individuals and carers who obtain the profit have been supplied a one-off £10 bonus each Christmas as a gesture of goodwill.
However many have been shocked to be taught that the Christmas bonus had remained the identical over the previous 5 many years, with one supporter saying it’s now “virtually nugatory”.
On the time of writing, greater than 15,000 individuals had thrown their assist behind the petition, together with 1,000 new signatories in a single day.
“I am signing as a result of so many older persons are discovering it exhausting “to make ends meet” throughout the price of dwelling disaster,” wrote Glenyd on the change.org web page in assist.
“£10 is an insult,” added one other supporter.
Whereas the petition was began underneath the previous Conservative authorities, its calls for have remained unchanged underneath Labour.
Right here’s what it’s essential know.
What’s the DWP Christmas bonus?
Based on the UK authorities web site: “The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 fee made earlier than Christmas, paid to individuals who get sure advantages within the qualifying week. That is usually the primary full week of December.”
Individuals on the advantages listed right here qualify for the fee, which is able to routinely be made to those that qualify and will seem of their checking account alongside the reference: DWP XB.
How a lot has it been in earlier years?
The fee was launched in 1972 and has remained the identical for a lot of the final 50 years. It was elevated in 2008 to £70 due to the monetary crash however this was non permanent.
What has Labour mentioned concerning the DWP Christmas bonus?
To date, it doesn’t seem that Labour has put a lot thought into the DWP Christmas bonus. As a substitute, the social gathering has made some robust choices in relation to advantages.
Earlier this yr, Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, laid out Labour’s plans to encourage individuals to return to work as a substitute of counting on state advantages.
When pressed this week about current cuts to the winter gas fee, enterprise secretary Jonathan Reynolds mentioned: “We’ve no selection.” He dismissed fears that some individuals might die of the chilly this winter because of the lower.
He added: “We’re ensuring that we are able to reassure individuals by saying the state pension is larger than final winter and power payments are decrease than final winter.”
The Customary has approached the DWP for remark.
What’s the petition for?
The petition urges the federal government to extend the Christmas bonus consistent with inflation.
Based on the petition organisers’ calculations, this may have been equal to £113.18 in 2023. This yr, inflation would take the bonus even larger.
Based on the petition: “This isn’t asking for ‘simply one other handout’. That is for these of us that don’t have an choice to earn something further.”
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