Christmas Bonus benefit payments scrapped under Universal Credit

The DWP is facing a barrage of criticism after confirming the £10 Christmas Bonus payment made to benefits claimants does not apply to those now on Universal Credit

The Government has been branded "despicable scrooges" for axing a £10 Christmas Bonus payment designed to help hard-up families on benefits cover the extra cost of the festive period.

Claimants receiving 19 types of payments, including Disability Living Allowance, Jobseekers' Allowance and other low income benefits, are used to receiving the one-off cash boost in the first week of December.

But this year, for all those who have now been moved across to Universal Credit, the cash will not be coming.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the £10 Christmas Bonus will not be paid to people on Universal Credit.

The revelation has led to a barrage of criticism on social media, with the Government being accused of being "stingy" and "cruel".

It comes as people from Plymouth and across the UK continue to claim they have been left out of pocket and struggling to afford to live by the Universal Credit changes.

The DWP said in a statement that some of those on Universal Credit would still be receiving the Christmas Bonus - for example if they still receive PIP or contribution-based ESA payments.

But a spokesman added: "Universal Credit claimants have never received a one-off December payment, but many disabled people on Universal Credit will be better off on average by £100 month than when they received ESA.”

Angry benefits claimants and political commentators have rounded on the Conservative-led Government over the move.

One Twitter users described the DWP as "Despicable Scrooges"