Part X Christmas bonus for pensioners

144 Entitlement of pensioners to Christmas bonus.

1

Any person who in any year—

a

is present or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or any other member State at any time during the relevant week; and

b

is entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit in respect of a period which includes a day in that week or is to be treated as entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit in respect of such a period,

shall, subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act and to section 1 of the Administration Act, be entitled to payment under this subsection in respect of that year.

2

Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, any person who is a member of a couple and is entitled to a payment under subsection (1) above in respect of a year shall also be entitled to payment under this subsection in respect of that year if—

a

both members have attained pensionable age not later than the end of the relevant week; and

b

the other member satisfies the condition mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above; and

c

either—

i

he is entitled or treated as entitled, in respect of the other member, to an increase in the payment of the qualifying benefit; or

ii

the only qualifying benefit to which he is entitled is income support.

3

A payment under subsection (1) or (2) above—

a

is to be made by the Department; and

b

is to be of £10 or such larger sum as the Department may by order specify.

4

Where the only qualifying benefit to which a person is entitled is income support, he shall not be entitled to a payment under subsection (1) above unless he has attained pensionable age not later than the end of the relevant week.

5

Only one sum shall be payable in respect of any person.