The Truth About The DWP £910 Pre-Christmas Payment: What You Need To Know For December 2025
The claim of a single, official £910 'Pre-Christmas Payment' from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has caused significant confusion and speculation among benefit claimants as of December 20, 2025. This figure is not an official, standalone DWP payment; rather, it appears to be a sensationalised or aggregated total that combines several separate benefit payments and cost of living support measures for those who meet specific eligibility criteria.
To provide clarity for the 2025 festive season, this article breaks down the official, confirmed financial support available from the DWP, including the Christmas Bonus, Winter Fuel Payment, and crucial changes to the regular benefit payment schedule, ensuring you receive the correct information and avoid potential scams.
Understanding the £910 Payment Hype: Aggregated Benefits Explained
The figure of £910 circulating online is highly misleading as an official, single DWP payment. It likely represents a maximum possible total someone could receive by qualifying for multiple, separate DWP and government support payments throughout the year or in a specific period, such as a Cost of Living Payment combined with other benefits.
The DWP has not announced any new, single £910 payment for Christmas 2025. The focus should remain on the confirmed, official payments and schedule adjustments.
The Confusion: Aggregating Multiple Payments
The £910 total may be an attempt to combine:
- Previous Cost of Living Payments: While the main 2024/2025 Cost of Living Payments have largely concluded, some sites may be adding up previous instalments to create a large, clickbait-friendly number.
- Winter Fuel Payment: This is a key payment for pensioners and can be between £100 and £300, depending on age and circumstances.
- The Christmas Bonus: The official, guaranteed DWP Christmas payment is a fixed, one-off sum of £10.
- Regular Monthly Benefits: The total may include a regular monthly Universal Credit or other benefit payment, which is not an 'extra' Christmas payment.
Always rely on official government sources, such as the GOV.UK website, for accurate information regarding benefit entitlements and payment amounts, as unofficial claims can be deceptive.
Confirmed DWP Christmas Payments for 2025
While the £910 payment is not real, there are two major, confirmed, and official DWP payments specifically linked to the winter and Christmas period: the Christmas Bonus and the Winter Fuel Payment. Both are crucial financial lifelines for eligible recipients.
1. The Official DWP Christmas Bonus: £10
The DWP Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 made to people who receive certain benefits during the qualifying week.
Eligibility for the Christmas Bonus
To be eligible, you must be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, and receive one of the qualifying benefits in the 'qualifying week'—typically the first full week of December.
Qualifying benefits include:
- State Pension
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Incapacity Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), but only if you are also receiving one of the other qualifying benefits
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- War Pension Scheme payments
Payment Date and Process
The £10 Christmas Bonus is paid automatically; you do not need to apply for it. Payments for 2025 are expected to be made during the first full week of December, with all eligible claimants receiving the payment before Christmas Day. It will appear in the bank account used for your regular benefits, often with the reference "XB" (for Christmas Bonus).
2. The Winter Fuel Payment: Up to £300
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free annual payment to help older people pay for heating costs. For 2025, the payment amount is between £100 and £300, depending on your age and living circumstances during the qualifying period.
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment
You qualify if you were born before a specific date (usually September 25th of the qualifying year) and lived in the UK for at least one day during the 'qualifying week' (usually the third week of September).
Payment Date
Payments for the Winter Fuel Allowance are typically made automatically between November and December. Pensioners can expect to receive their payment before Christmas 2025, with some sources indicating payments starting from December 23, 2025.
Crucial DWP Payment Date Changes for Christmas 2025
The most important financial update for all benefit recipients in December 2025 is the change to the regular payment schedule due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays. The DWP ensures that benefits are paid early when the scheduled payment date falls on a bank holiday or a weekend.
This is not an extra payment; it is your regular benefit payment being moved forward.
DWP Festive Payment Schedule Changes
For Christmas and New Year 2025/2026, the key changes are:
| Normal Payment Date | DWP Payment Will Be Made On |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 24 December 2025 | Tuesday 23 December 2025 |
| Thursday 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day) | Wednesday 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve) |
| Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day) | Wednesday 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve) |
| Monday 29 December 2025 | Friday 26 December 2025 (or earlier) |
| Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
Key Takeaway: Payments due on Christmas Day (Thursday 25th) or Boxing Day (Friday 26th) will be paid on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. This means you will receive your money earlier, but you will then need to budget carefully to cover a longer period until your next scheduled payment.
Scam Warning: How to Protect Your Benefits
The circulation of figures like the '£910 Pre-Christmas Payment' often coincides with an increase in scam attempts targeting vulnerable benefit claimants. Scammers use these misleading headlines to trick people into giving away personal and bank details.
The DWP has issued clear warnings about how they communicate with claimants:
- The DWP will never ask for your bank details via a text message or email. Official payments like the Christmas Bonus and Winter Fuel Payment are made automatically into the bank account where you receive your regular benefits.
- Be suspicious of any text, email, or phone call asking you to 'apply' for a large, previously unannounced payment like £910.
- Official DWP communications will direct you to the GOV.UK website for information, not to third-party or unfamiliar links.
- Protect your personal information. Do not click on suspicious links or provide your National Insurance number, bank details, or passport information to unverified sources.
If you are unsure about a payment or communication, contact the official DWP helpline or check the GOV.UK website directly before taking any action. The true DWP support for Christmas 2025 is focused on the £10 Christmas Bonus, the Winter Fuel Payment, and the early payment of regular benefits to accommodate the bank holidays.
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