Brits could be entitled to as much as £435 through various payments from the DWP in the run-up to Christmas.
Brits could get extra benefits this December (Image: Getty)
With Christmas being such an expensive time of the year, many Brits might be left feeling stressed about what’s ahead, financially. This fear is heightened for some this year, with energy bills increasing thanks to the conflict in the Middle East, as well as rising food prices in certain supermarkets. Meanwhile, some experts have warned of supermarket staples, such as poultry meat and vegetables, going up in price thanks to the extreme heat we’ve experienced this year.
There are several payments available to British households before Christmas, depending on their circumstances and meeting certain criteria. The DWP is expected to send £100s to UK families receiving specific benefits. Such payments include the Crisis and Resilience Fund, Cold Weather Payments, Warm Home Discount, DWP Christmas Bonus, and Winter Fuel Payment. Here is a breakdown of everything that is available.
£10 DWP Christmas Bonus
People who receive certain benefits from the will be entitled to a £10 Christmas bonus again this year. The tax-free, one-off payment is dispatched automatically during the first week of December.
The qualifying benefits are State Pension, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit (Guarantee element) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The DWP says you must be receiving a qualifying benefit during the official qualifying week in December, and that you must live or be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the qualifying week.
Christmas can be an expensive time of the year (Image: Getty)
£150 Warm Homes Discount
The £150 Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a one-off reduction applied straight to your electricity account (or as a voucher if you’re on a prepayment meter). It is applied automatically if you satisfy the eligibility requirements on the qualifying date in England and Wales.
The qualifying date was August 23, 2026.
Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) – £50-£1,000
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaced the Household Support Fund (HSF), which could potentially be paid to some households ahead of Christmas 2026.
Local councils and authorities across England operate and administer it, so it depends on where you are in the country. The payment provides short-term help with essentials such as food, gas, electricity, clothing, and fixes for faulty household appliances like fridges.
£25 Cold Weather Payment
The Cold Weather Payment depends on the weather, but you can receive a £25 payment for every seven-day period when the average temperature in your area reaches 0C or below, or is forecast to do so, from November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
So if the temperature plummets below 0 before November ends, you could get the payment before Christmas.
£200 – £300 Winter Fuel Payment
People may be entitled to £200 or more if they meet the requirements for the winter fuel payment when they are of state pension age. It is £200 for households with somebody aged between State Pension age and 79, and £300 for households with somebody aged 80 or above.
To qualify this winter, you must have been born on or before June 27, 1960. Qualifying pensioners will automatically receive correspondence in October or November 2026 outlining how much they’ll receive and which bank account it will land in.