Christmas box query.

Iam on Income Related ESA as a top up to CB ESA, should I have gotten the £10 Christmas bonus this year? I've had it other years but the last two years I've had to ring up and they gave it to me, this year they said I'm not eligible, have just been awarded full enhanced PIP for mobility and daily living, last month even though I haven't got that money through yet, wil be getting it next month.

Judy wrote: Iam on Income Related ESA as a top up to CB ESA, should I have gotten the £10 Christmas bonus this year? I've had it other years but the last two years I've had to ring up and they gave it to me, this year they said I'm not eligible, have just been awarded full enhanced PIP for mobility and daily living, last month even though I haven't got that money through yet, wil be getting it next month.

Hi J,

One of the qualifying benefits for payment of The Xmas Bonus is CB ESA.

Therefore, if were being paid CB ESA (even if you have IR ESA top-ups) in the first pay week of December then you should have been paid the £10.

Are you sure that you haven't missed it in your Bank Account, as they simply add it on to your normal ESA payments ?

Further, if you were entitled to PIP in the first pay week of December, that also gives you entitlement to the Xmas Bonus.

You can only receive the one Xmas Bonus, even if you are in receipt of more than one qualifying benefit.

See : Christmas Bonus

bro58

Thank you, My PIP doesn't start until 11th December. This is the third year I've had to ask for my Xmas bonus, they always say I'm not eligible for it so I tell them to look again as I am. Trust me it doesn't go in and they even have it on record that I have phoned up in the past about it. I get it when I ring up and tell them I AM eligible... just makes me stressed that I have to fight for it all the time So tomorrow I will be ringing them again.... rang them last week and told them I hadn't got it and they said they needed to speak to a supervisor, then came back and said they would ring me within the 3 hour time thing. They DID ring but I had to go out so missed the call. As it wasn't sent to me or in my account today then I'm guessing they're saying I'm not eligible.

Judy wrote: Thank you, My PIP doesn't start until 11th December. This is the third year I've had to ask for my Xmas bonus, they always say I'm not eligible for it so I tell them to look again as I am. Trust me it doesn't go in and they even have it on record that I have phoned up in the past about it. I get it when I ring up and tell them I AM eligible... just makes me stressed that I have to fight for it all the time So tomorrow I will be ringing them again.... rang them last week and told them I hadn't got it and they said they needed to speak to a supervisor, then came back and said they would ring me within the 3 hour time thing. They DID ring but I had to go out so missed the call. As it wasn't sent to me or in my account today then I'm guessing they're saying I'm not eligible.

Hopefully you will get it sorted J,

You are not alone in suffering this problem, we have heard from several members regarding the same over the last couple of years.

If you were being paid CB ESA on the first pay week of December, then you are entitled to The Xmas Bonus.

Direct them to their own Government website on the link from our FAQ, if they argue !!!

bro58

Lol, I wonder if they do this a lot? And how much money they save by not giving it to people. It's shocking really when you think about it. Some people are to ill or not wanting to fight them for it and they know this. I will be ringing them that's for sure... cheapskates.