Prisoners on remand - Help with housing costs - On remand

While you are on remand or in a bail hostel, you can remain entitled to:

• Housing Benefit (England, Scotland, Wales)
• Housing Benefit (Northern Ireland) and
• Council Tax Support

This is as long as your absence from home is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks and you intend to return home.

Contact your local council for information on what you need to do.

If you were getting Universal Credit to help with your housing costs before being held on remand, you can continue to get it for up to six months.

If you are a homeowner, you can continue to receive Support for mortgage interest if you are claiming Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit, or were claiming Universal Support before going to prison but this will also only be paid for up to 52 weeks.

If you own your own home and get help with service charges and ground rent through Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit, this will continue for 52 weeks.

If your home is unoccupied while you are in prison, you can apply for a Council Tax exemption as long as you are not in prison for non-payment of a fine or Council Tax.

If your partner is going to be absent for more than 13 weeks and you’re the only adult living in the property, you could get a 25% discount on your Council Tax bill.