The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) often becomes the centre of attention when rumours or social media posts claim a new payment is coming. In early 2025, one of the most widely shared claims has been about a supposed “£100 DWP Bonus” for pensioners and certain benefit claimants. Posts and videos have appeared on Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp, with people asking if this money is real or just another piece of fake news. With so much confusion, it’s time to break down the facts and explain whether you should expect this payment in 2025.
Where Did the £100 Bonus Rumour Come From?
The claim about the £100 bonus appears to have originated from a mix of old payment information and misinterpreted headlines. In the past, the DWP has made winter bonus payments, including the long-standing £10 Christmas Bonus and extra Cost of Living Payments for certain groups. Some people have confused these with a separate one-off payment of £100. Others may have seen older articles about council-specific or local authority grants that mentioned £100 support and assumed they were national DWP schemes. Once these posts started circulating on social media, they quickly spread without proper fact-checking.
What the DWP Has Officially Announced
As of August 2025, there has been no official DWP press release, government statement, or legislation confirming any £100 nationwide bonus payment. The DWP publishes all confirmed payment schemes on GOV.UK, and journalists regularly cover these announcements in mainstream media such as BBC News, Sky News, and The Guardian. There is currently no listing or official guidance for a £100 DWP bonus for pensioners, Universal Credit claimants, or other benefit recipients in 2025. This means any claim suggesting you will automatically get £100 is not based on official facts.
Understanding Past Bonus Payments
To understand why so many people believed the rumour, it helps to look at what payments have been made before. The £10 Christmas Bonus has been in place since 1972 and is still paid every December to people receiving certain benefits, including the State Pension. Cost of Living Payments, introduced in 2022 during the energy crisis, have ranged from £150 to £900 depending on eligibility and have been delivered in multiple instalments. These payments were widely publicised and officially confirmed before being made. The DWP has never made a £100 nationwide bonus payment to all claimants without prior notice.
Who Might Actually Get £100 in 2025
While there is no nationwide £100 DWP bonus, some people could still receive £100 from other legitimate schemes. For example, certain local councils in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may run hardship grants funded through the Household Support Fund or devolved government programmes. Some energy suppliers also offer account credits or vouchers worth around £100 for vulnerable customers. These are not DWP payments and usually require an application or eligibility check. If you see a £100 payment mentioned, it’s worth confirming whether it’s from a council, charity, or energy firm rather than the DWP.
How Fake Payment Claims Spread
False claims about benefit payments spread quickly because they tap into people’s hopes and financial needs. In recent years, social media platforms have become hotspots for misinformation, with posts shared thousands of times before anyone verifies them. Fake news pages often use official-sounding names or images of government logos to appear legitimate. Sometimes, the people sharing these posts aren’t intentionally spreading lies — they might genuinely believe the information is true because a friend sent it to them. This is why it’s important to double-check anything you read online about benefits.
How to Check if a Payment Is Real
The easiest way to confirm if a payment is real is to go directly to official sources. The GOV.UK website is updated regularly with accurate information about all DWP payments and eligibility rules. You can also call the DWP helpline, check your Universal Credit online journal, or read updates from trusted media outlets like the BBC. Be wary of any payment offer that requires you to click a suspicious link, give your bank details unexpectedly, or pay a “processing fee” — these are classic signs of scams.
Common Scams Related to the £100 Bonus Rumour
Alongside the false £100 bonus claim, scammers have been targeting vulnerable people by pretending to be from the DWP. They may send text messages saying you have a £100 payment waiting and asking you to click a link to claim it. Once you do, they may steal your personal details or attempt to access your bank account. Another trick is sending fake letters with DWP logos, telling you to call a premium-rate number to “release” the payment. The DWP never operates this way, and any genuine payment will be sent directly to your bank account without you having to apply via unofficial channels.
Why the DWP Would Announce It First
Any new national payment, especially something like a £100 bonus, would cost the government hundreds of millions of pounds. Such spending requires parliamentary approval and is always announced well in advance to ensure claimants are aware and the media can inform the public. In 2022 and 2023, for example, the Cost of Living Payments were announced months before they were paid. The fact that no such announcement has been made for a £100 bonus in 2025 strongly suggests the rumour is unfounded.
What Support Is Actually Available in 2025
Although there’s no £100 DWP bonus, the government is still providing various forms of support in 2025. Pensioners and low-income households may be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £600, and the Warm Home Discount of £150. Certain claimants will also receive disability-related Cost of Living Payments and extra help through local welfare schemes. If you are struggling financially, it’s better to focus on confirmed support rather than chasing unverified bonuses that may not exist.
The Bottom Line
The idea of a surprise £100 bonus from the DWP sounds appealing, especially during a time when living costs remain high. However, as of now, this payment is not real. The rumour likely comes from a mix of confusion with other support schemes and the rapid spread of misleading posts online. If the DWP ever does decide to give out a new payment, it will be clearly announced on GOV.UK and reported widely by credible news outlets. Until then, treat any claim about a £100 bonus with caution and verify it using official sources.