The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a response to the growing call for an increase in the £10 Christmas bonus. The bonus, which is provided to millions nationwide, has remained constant since its inception in 1972.
The petition for an increase was initiated by Shona McMahon, who highlighted the financial pressure of Christmas, particularly with the discontinuation of energy assistance. Ms McMahon said: “Christmas is THE most expensive time of the year! Pensioners, the vulnerable and people like myself, disabled, could do with an extra boost at this time of year, especially as the energy assistance has been axed.”
Additionally, more than 21,600 individuals have backed the petition calling for the modest benefit to be upped to £165. People can view the petition here.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are taking immediate action to turn around the dire inheritance we face – with more people living in poverty now than 14 years ago. This includes extending the Household Support Fund for the most vulnerable, kickstarting work to develop a strategy to reduce child poverty and taking the first steps towards delivering a genuine living wage for working people.”
Ms McMahon added on her petition: “Christmas is THE most expensive time of year! Pensioners, the vulnerable & people like myself, disabled, could do with an extra boost at this time of year, especially as the energy assistance has been axed.
“The excuse would probably be that we are getting the £300 cost of living payment. For many of us, that payment goes out on bills the same day it goes into the bank, so there is NO chance of it lasting till Christmas! It was shocking to learn that the “£10 Christmas Bonus”, has been the same for OVER FIVE DECADES!!
“I then wondered, how much would that be now with inflation? Using the Bank of England inflation tool which, I’m sure accurately, told me it’s £113.18!! Wow!!!!”
“This isn’t asking for “just another handout”. This is for those of us that don’t have an option to earn anything extra. I implore you to sign & share this, if only because the government wouldn’t like their bonus to be stagnant for 51 years!”
The scheme rose temporarily after the financial crash of 2008, when the UK government increased the amount to £70. McMahon’s initiative isn’t solitary in this respect – another six-month-long and now closed petition on the Parliamentary website also advocated for a bonus increase proportional to inflation.
The statement highlights: “The Christmas bonus was introduced in 1972. Since then, inflation has lowered the cost of the pound significantly, yet the £10 number remained the same. With inflation taken into account, the bonus should actually be around £130. We want the Government to account for inflation in these payments.”
Chris Birt, of anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has previously said: “The social security system is completely inadequate and is causing deep hardship and destitution in our country at the moment.
“That is the fundamental issue which needs to be fixed. As to the £10 bonus payment, if that is supposed to bring a bit of joy into a household that is struggling, it needs to be higher than that.
“Frankly, I would rather that families were able to have a decent income all through the year so that when they get to Christmas, it was a celebration.”
