Live in sheltered or supported housing that has special facilities (e.g.

Get the severe disability premium or you received it within the last month (and still qualify).

If you have done time inside a prison, you must meet at least one of these conditions to make a new claim for Housing Benefit. Claiming for a property that will be rented out.

Claiming as a couple and you have since separated.

Not intending to return home after being released.

Likely to remain inside a prison for a period of more than thirteen (13) weeks (including any time spent on remand).

Likely to be on remand for a period of more than fifty two (52) weeks.

When You Cannot Claim Housing BenefitĬertain situations result in a loss of right for prisoners to claim Housing Benefit, such as if you are: Likewise, imprisonment does not disqualify you from making a claim for Housing Benefit for the first time. Generally, being in prison or on remand means you should still continue getting Housing Benefit. Note: A ‘release on temporary licence’ (ROTL) would not qualify you for the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). In some cases, you may also have entitlement for other support when someone leaves prison (financial and practical). You will be able to make a new claim for benefits straight after leaving prison – providing you still qualify.

In this case, you may get up to one year of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit after you are released. The process for claiming benefit arrears differs if you get convicted. Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.Providing you are not convicted, you should be able to get back any benefit arrears for: But, it only applies to arrears owed to you when you get sent to prison or go on remand. You can make a written request to have your benefit payments paid to another person. Having Benefit Arrears Paid to Someone Else Working Tax Credit (your partner may be able to claim for an absent partner)įurthermore, being remanded in custody will exclude your employer from having to pay your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).Pension Credit (excludes help with housing costs).Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.Income Support (excludes help with housing costs).The welfare benefits that you cannot claim while you are on remand (e.g. Note: You would stop receiving the Carer’s Allowance if the person you are caring for goes to prison or is placed on remand. Tax credits and Child Benefit (some conditions apply).Help to pay your council tax (if you meet the eligibility criteria).Housing Benefit (if it is a short sentence).They will either stop completely or be suspended, such as the Industrial Injuries Disabled Benefit (IIDB).Įven so, as a prisoner you should still be able to get: In most cases, going to prison means you will lose your automatic rights to benefits.

Providing you still satisfy the entitlement conditions in your own right, you should get your benefit payments even if your partner has gone to jail.

You can claim for other benefits and entitlements instead.

It is going to affect your claim for existing benefits.

What if it is ‘your partner’ or ‘your child’ in prison or on remand? In this case, you would need to inform the department that pays your benefits, to find out whether: In most cases, a benefits adviser from the DWP will help you suspend or close down the ones that you can no longer claim (see below). So, what is going to happen to your welfare benefits while ‘you’ are in prison or on remand? Furthermore, being imprisoned means you will not be able to claim the State Pension. Note: Prison sentences are one of the changes that need reporting to the Tax Credit Office (straight away).

Remand dnote