Let's Talk About Money

Benefits

Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to?

Any grant or benefit will depend on the terms of your release (remand, supervised attendance order or other condition). The following information lists some of the benefits and grants that you may be able to claim. The availability of benefits and grants may change. You should contact your supervising or resettlement officer, local Jobcentre Plus, NACRO, Connexions or the Pension Service for up-to-date information.

Please note: offenders may get benefit sanctions if they have been convicted of two benefit offences in three years. (The information below was right at the time of printing, but it may change.) A benefit for people aged 18 and over if they are not in paid work or are working less than 16 hours a week and looking for work.

	What is it?	How do I apply?	Any other information?
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)	A benefit for people aged 18 and over if they are not in paid work or are working less than 16 hours a week and looking for work.	Attend (or arrange) a New Jobseeker Interview as soon as you can after your release. The Jobcentre Plus office at your prison may be able to arrange an interview for you before your release.	If you have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the past, you may be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. If your income and savings are below a certain level, you may be able to claim income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income Support (IS)	A benefit for people who can’t claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) because they are long-term sick or disabled or because they are under 18. If you COUNT as a prisoner you are not entitled to Income Support apart from housing costs. Housing costs are payable for up to 52 weeks while you are on remand, awaiting trial or sentenced.	Contact your local Jobcentre Plus.	A person on remand, parole or sentenced needs to check if they COUNT but a prisoner is not counted as a member of a family for IS purposes. If you are a prisoner, your partner can claim benefit as a single person or lone parent. If your partner or child is a prisoner, you can no longer claim IS for him/her. As IS is generally paid in arrears (money owed to you) an offender may need to apply for an interim payment or Social Fund Crisis Loan to meet their initial expenses. (An interim payment is money to cover the time between your claim being made and IS being received.)
Housing Benefit (HB)	A benefit for people who are on low incomes and who need help to pay their rent. The conditions for receiving this benefit depend on: • the length of your sentence • whether you return to your home or a bail hostel.	Your local Neighbourhood Office, which looks after housing at your local council, will deal with this. If you are claiming JSA or IS, Jobcentre Plus should contact the council for you.	If you are not entitled to IS or income-based JSA you will need to make a new claim for HB on release. If you are not entitled to HB your partner or another person occupying your home may be able to claim benefit as a ‘liable person’. A prisoner continues to COUNT as a member of the claimant’s family as long as he or she is unlikely to be away for substantially longer than 52 weeks.
Discharge Grant (DG)	If you have been in prison for 15 days or more you will get a discharge grant on release.	To get the grant, your prison should give you a form to sign about two weeks before release.	If you need to pay housing costs in advance, an extra £50 may be available. It will be sent direct to your landlord (speak to your resettlement manager). This counts as capital for IS/Income-based JSA purposes, which means you don’t get it as well as IS/JSA
Community Care Grant (CCG)	A grant for items like furniture, household equipment and clothing (but not clothes for interviews or work). If you are released on temporary licence somebody caring for you can claim CCG for living expenses.	You can apply to Jobcentre Plus up to six weeks before your release date, as long as you will be claiming IS or income-based JSA on release. Do not be tempted to apply early as this will mean your application will be sent back to you.	You are not automatically entitled to this and if there isn’t enough money you will be turned down (first-come, first-served). You can apply for CCG if you are getting, or expect to be getting, IS or income-based JSA.
Crisis Loan (CL)	You may be able to get this if your Discharge Grant has run out and you are waiting for benefits.	Ask your local Jobcentre Plus or Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for a form.	You will need to pay this back. It depends on the funds available at the time of your application. The most you can get as a crisis loan is £1,500.
Child Tax Credit (CTC)	A tax credit to support families with children. The amount you receive depends on your income and family circumstances.	HM Revenue & Customs deals with this. It is paid on top of Child Benefit. You call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 to get a claim form and to get more information. You claim Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit on the same claim form.	You can claim for as many qualifying children’ as you are responsible for. If you get a Disability Living Allowance or if your child has a disability, he/she will qualify for the disability element of Child Tax Credit.
Working Tax Credit (WTC)	A tax credit for working adults on low incomes, including those who do not have children. It is meanstested, i.e. the amount you get will depend on what other income is already coming into the household.	HM Revenue & Customs deals with this. It is paid on top of Child Benefit. You call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 to get a claim form and to get more information. You claim Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit on the same claim form.	The amount of hours you need to work to claim depends on: • your age • whether or not you are responsible for any children • if you have any disabilities.