Quick question that I can't find an answer to anywhere. When a person is arrested and remanded in custody, whose responsibility is it to tell the DWP to stop his IS/DLA? Am currently working with a client who has had benefit stopped due to non response to an enquiry form whilst on remand.

Other clients who have been arrested have never had this problem - I assumed the prison service informed the DWP, although I've never really had to think about it.

Cheers

Ali

I would have said that it is the customer's responsibility to notify any changes in their circumstances.

You're probably right, legally. It's just that with other clients, it has always been someone from the prison service who has tied up all the loose ends. Does anyone else out there regularly deal with prisoners?

It is the claimants responsibility to ensure that DWP are notified of any changes.
However, all prisoners should have an induction interview where their benefit and housing status is enquired about in order to close down claims and make application for HB if eligible.
In many prisons JobcentrePlus have staff members who routinely check all new prisoners to see if they are claiming benefits and should ensure that any outstanding benefit due is paid and claims closed down. This is done on an EBS1 form.
I am aware though that JC+ have started withdrawing their staff from prisons.
Incidentally your client's DLA claim should have been suspended and in order to get it reinstated on release, even if the client notifies DLA of their release, the D&CS would write to the prison for confirmation of release dates. I'm afraid all too often prisons don't reply to such requests - often causing delays of several weeks even months before the benefit is reinstated!

Thanks for that Kiteflier. I think I was getting confused - even though I had written IS, and my client was in receipt of IS, for some reason I had it in my head that I was talking about IB, which is of course a different kettle of fish when it comes to prisoners on remand.

It is Friday, after all...