Section 148 — Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992: Entitlement of pensioners to Christmas bonus.

Entitlement of pensioners to Christmas bonus. 148 1 Any person who in any year—

a is present or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom , an EEA state or Switzerland 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 state pension credit . 2ZA In a case where a person is entitled to a payment of armed forces independence payment, the reference in subsection (1) to section 1 of the Administration Act is to be read as a reference to article 43 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/517). 2A In a case falling within paragraph (c)(ii) of subsection (2) above, paragraph (a) of that subsection has effect with the substitution of “qualifying age for state pension credit” for “pensionable age”.

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

a is to be made by the Secretary of State;

and b is to be of £10 or such larger sum as the Secretary of State may by order specify. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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