The Unchanged £10 Christmas Bonus for Over Five Decades

Shona McMahon, a 49-year-old woman living with degenerative disc disease and liver disease, relies on Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independent Payment (PIP). These benefits make her eligible for the £10 Christmas bonus, a tax-free payment given to millions of people in the UK in December to help with holiday expenses. The UK government introduced this program in 1972 and has awarded it to eligible beneficiaries ever since. Ms. McMahon began a petition after realizing that the Christmas bonus has remained at £10 for the past 51 years. The petition has already garnered over 5,500 signatures. She argues that it is ridiculous that the amount has not increased during that time and mentions that in 1972, £10 could buy significantly more than it can now. According to Ms. McMahon, comments on the petition reflect the sentiment that the £10 bonus is an insult. If the bonus had kept up with inflation, it would be worth approximately £163 today. During the financial crash of 2008, the UK government temporarily increased the bonus to £70. Ms. McMahon is not alone in calling for a change in the £10 payment. Chris Birt from anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation criticizes the insufficient social security system, stating that it leads to hardship and destitution. Ms. McMahon states that the £10 bonus is not enough to bring joy to struggling households during Christmas. She believes that families should have a more decent income throughout the year so they can truly celebrate the holiday. This year, many households in the UK are facing even greater financial strain due to the increased cost of living, including higher expenses for food, energy, and services. Ms. McMahon herself will not have any extra money for Christmas, and most of the presents under her tree are simply empty boxes for decoration. She has informed her children that they will need to wait until next year for any gifts. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson states that they will be paying benefits earlier during Christmas and will continue to provide the £10 bonus. They acknowledge that some families are struggling and emphasize that they are offering support averaging around £3,700 per household, including a more than 10% increase in benefits this year.