mike shermer
Welfare Benefits Officer, Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, Kings l
Member since 23rd Jan 2004
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RE: End Of Custody Licence (ECL) scheme & HB
Tue 14-Aug-07 11:55 AM |
The guidance issued by JCP at Caxton House (copied below) states quite clearly that as far as JCP are concerned during the first two weeks there is no entitlement to Benefits, and that this is a Ministry of Justice problem. Reading between the lines, one gets the impression that the early release scheme was sprung on them with much prior consultation.
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A reply to the queries raised has now been recieved from JCP as follows:
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JOBCENTRE PLUS
EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS
This is a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) initiative. It is their policy and queries should be directed to them. They asked us in JCP if we could help facilitate payments to released prisoners. We identified a better and cheaper way of doing this through DWPs Shared Services. That is pretty much the end of our involvement.
But we know that some prisoners are being released early under a End of Custody Licence. This is a form of Release on Temporary Licence. Benefit Regulations are very clear that benefits are not normally payable in these circumstances. This is why MoJ need to make payments to these people to sustain them. They may also receive help towards accommodation costs.
Staged payments are being made. Prisoners released under this programme will receive a discharge grant from the prison and then payments at 8 and 15 days through DWP Shared Services from 16 July. Prior to this the prison will make the full payment. There is a help line which prisoners can ring for any queries regarding receipt of payments. The number is 02929381111. This is not available until the 17th of July.
It is being made very clear to prisoners on release that they should not attempt to claim benefits and if they contact JCP they should declare they are subject to an ECL. Once the licence ends of course they can make claims in the normal way. For those wishing to claim JSA, MoJ will be booking a new claims interview through the Freshstart process for as soon as possible after the ECL ends, rather than as soon as possible after release. Our Employment and Benefit Surgery Advisers, who are based in prisons, will be giving this message too but of course will continue to signpost customers to appropriate products, services and employment Opportunities.
There is no JCP guidance for this as it is MoJ policy. Obviously, we have written an information note for our Directors but this is nothing more than I have written here and in my previous note. I would be happy for you to circulate these if that would be helpful. I would be grateful though if it is noted that the help line number is only available from 17 July.
Nick Owen Products and Services Management Division Labour market & Employer Products and services Caxton house London
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