Millions of people claiming certain benefits should check for a code in their bank account that will indicate when their Christmas bonus has arrived.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay a Christmas bonus of £10 in December - a payment that has previously been slammed by families as "insulting" as it has never been permanently increased since its launch in 1972. It was briefly raised to £70 in 2008 to support people during the financial crash but was reduced back to £10 the following year.

If you're entitled to the payment, the Christmas payment may show up as "DWP XB" on your bank statement. The money is paid automatically - meaning you don't need to claim. It is also tax-free and won't affect the benefits you claim.

Do you think the £10 Christmas bonus is enough? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Brits who receive one of the following benefits in the "qualifying week" - which is usually the first full week of December - will get the DWP Christmas bonus:

  • 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 Supplement

  • 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

You must also be present or "ordinarily resident" in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar during the qualifying week. If you’re a married couple, in a civil partnership or living together, it is possible for both of you to get the Christmas bonus. You each need to be claiming one of the qualifying benefits.

If one partner does not receive one of the qualifying benefits, they may still be eligible for the payment, as long as they meet both of the following requirements:

  • You’re both over State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week

  • Your partner or civil partner was also present (or ‘ordinarily resident’) in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week

And either:

  • You’re entitled to an increase of a qualifying benefit for your partner or civil partner

  • The only qualifying benefit you’re getting is Pension Credit