Guidance

Universal Credit for prison leavers

Updated 12 January 2026

1. Who this guide is for

This guide is for people who want to claim Universal Credit and:

• are preparing to leave prison
• have left prison recently

2. About Universal Credit

You cannot claim Universal Credit until you’re released from prison. However, you can take steps to prepare to make this claim.

You can find out more about what Universal Credit is along with guidance on:

• what benefits it is replacing
• whether you can claim it
• what you must do while claiming it

Universal Credit does not include help to pay for Council Tax. If you have your own tenancy you’ll need to claim this separately through your local council. Your work coach may be able to help you with this.

3. Help while in prison

In prison, you may have access to:

• a pre-release team
• a prison work coach

If you do, they can help you prepare your claim for Universal Credit.

If you do not have access to either a pre-release team or a prison work coach, you should continue to the guidance on making your claim for Universal Credit.

3.1 Prison work coach

If you have a prison work coach, you can arrange to meet them at any point during your sentence.

If you’re single and responsible for housing costs, and expect to be in prison for 6 months or less, speak to the prison work coach. If you were receiving Universal Credit before your sentence started, you may be able to continue receiving support for your housing costs.

You should be invited to see them about 12 weeks before you’re released to discuss employment, housing, training, benefits and more.

A prison work coach can also help you to prepare your benefit claim before release by:

• checking which benefits you may be able to claim
• checking that you have the necessary identity documents to open a bank account and evidence to support your claim
• booking an initial appointment at the nearest jobcentre to where you’ll be living after you’re released
• letting you know what to expect at the jobcentre appointment

The week before release, the prison work coach will help you prepare your claim and will book your appointment at the jobcentre.

3.2 Pre-release team

If you have a pre-release team, you can meet with them to discuss housing, finance, benefits and education.

You should attend any appointments with the pre-release team. Be open about any concerns you have about your release.

You can have more than one appointment with the pre-release team if you need to.

If you want to claim Universal Credit when you’re released, you’ll need identity documents and a bank account. The pre-release team can help with this.

4. Make your claim for Universal Credit after leaving prison

After you have left prison, you should make your Universal Credit claim as soon as possible.

If you do not have access to the internet, your jobcentre will have computers you can use. Jobcentre staff can help you to make your claim.

If you cannot get to the jobcentre, you can call the Prison Leaver Helpline on 0800 169 0345 to make your claim by phone. It is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm and is free from a mobile or landline.

You can only use the Prison Leaver Helpline if you have recently left prison. It cannot answer other Universal Credit questions.

You cannot claim while you’re still in prison.

5. At the jobcentre

What you’ll do at the jobcentre will depend on whether you met with a pre-release team or a prison work coach before your release from prison.

If you have your release papers please bring them with you.

You may be asked to bring identity documents to the jobcentre to prove your identity.

If your claim is accepted, you’ll need to sign a claimant commitment. This is a record of what you agree to do to:

• prepare for and look for work
• increase your earnings, if you’re already working

5.1 You did not meet with a pre-release team or prison work coach

You’ll follow the usual route for claiming Universal Credit.

After you make your claim, you’ll be given an appointment at the jobcentre that you must attend.

5.2 You have met with a pre-release team or prison work coach 

If you worked with a pre-release team or prison work coach to prepare your claim for Universal Credit, follow the instructions they gave you.

You’ll still need to make a claim for Universal Credit.

If they have booked your first jobcentre appointment for you, you must make your claim for Universal Credit before that appointment. You can do this:

• online yourself at home
• using a smartphone
• using the computers at the jobcentre

Bring any documents or information with you to the jobcentre that the pre-release team or prison work coach told you to.

6. Be open about your situation

We understand it can be difficult for you to talk to us about issues or challenges that you’re experiencing, but your work coach is there to help you.

6.1 Talk to your work coach

Tell your prison work coach before your release, and your jobcentre work coach after your release, about any issues you may have, including:

• homelessness
• addictions
• mental health problems
• childcare

The sooner the work coach knows, the sooner they can start giving you the support you need.

7. Help you can get

Your jobcentre work coach can explain the different types of help available or you can contact Universal Credit.

7.1 Early payment of your Universal Credit

You can apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment if you:

• cannot wait for your first payment of Universal Credit
• have an unexpected expense later in your claim

You’ll repay this amount gradually from your future Universal Credit payments.

7.2 Change when or how you receive your Universal Credit

If you’re worried about getting your Universal Credit in one payment each month, you can ask to change how you’re paid.

The total amount you receive each month will be the same.

If you receive help with your rent, you can have this paid directly to your landlord so you do not have to worry about it.

These are known as ‘alternative payment arrangements’.

7.3 Help with your housing costs

Universal Credit can help with your housing costs.

You can apply for this either:

• as part of your application for Universal Credit
• after you start receiving Universal Credit

Your situation will affect how much you’ll get for renting from a private landlord.

There are different rules for if you live in a home you own or in social housing.

7.4 Changes to your claimant commitment

Your claimant commitment can be tailored to take account of your circumstances and should be reviewed regularly.

Your jobcentre work coach can decide if your claimant commitment should be changed or temporarily reduced. This is known as an ‘easement’.

They will decide if this is needed based on your circumstances, for example, if you’re:

• homeless
• undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol abuse
• fleeing domestic abuse
• under specific licence conditions

Speak to your jobcentre work coach if you’re struggling with the activities in your claimant commitment, or if your situation changes.

8. How to manage your claim

After you make your claim, you’ll usually need to check your online account to see if your jobcentre work coach has set you actions to complete. These actions are called ‘to-dos’.

You must report changes in your circumstances.

You can use a smartphone or a computer to check your Universal Credit account. Jobcentre work coaches can help you do this.

If you cannot get online, there are other ways to contact Universal Credit.