Useful information for people leaving prison

Put in applications and start gathering the information required for the following: 

• Visit the Resettlement Office to help with outstanding resettlement issues.
• If you haven’t already done so and you are seeking supplementary funding, now might be a good time to make applications for funding and grants. Speak to your probation officer about this.
• Open a bank account – this may be done by the resettlement officer; if it isn’t, see our section on opening a bank account .
•  Contact Jobcentre Plus to find out about benefits you could apply for. A Universal Credit (UC) application must be filled in online at www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit If you need help with the application or have any questions please call: 0800 328 5644 (0800 012 1331 if you are in Northern Ireland).
•  Ask someone who works in the library to look up information for you on National Careers Service, Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales or nidirect Careers Service. They have websites that give information and advice on getting jobs. If you have the Virtual Campus in your prison, you may gain access to a lot of useful information on jobs pre-release. There are also employment services listed in the Hardman Directory.
• Ask your personal officer about charities that give advice on housing, whether it’s temporary or permanent. Your prison may have connections with different charities that provide guidance on this. You can look in the Hardman Directory for housing related services.
• Find a mentor – have a look at the section in this How to Guide on mentoring. Some mentoring services are also listed in the Hardman Directory. Ask the prison chaplaincy if they can help you contact local organisations in the area you’re going to.

It is now a good time to:

• Start thinking about applying for jobs. You can do this with Jobcentre Plus or with a job club or employment hub if your prison has one.
•  In some prisons you can apply for voluntary work in the community. You can see some volunteer organisations in the Hardman Directory.
• Get valid photo ID from Resettlement or try CitizenCard to learn more about this see our Photo ID section

• Talk to your personal officer about signing release papers.
• Contact HMRC to get documents that show your name and National Insurance number if you don’t already have your NI number. Call on 0300 200 3500. Their written reply should arrive within 15 days.
• If you need medication you should apply to see healthcare. Healthcare can provide you 7 days of medicine on the day you are released from prison.
• Talk to your probation officer to get addresses for support networks in the area you are moving to.
• Finish any applications for Universal Credit.
• If you are of retirement age, make a note to contact Age UK to ask for their help in claiming benefits.
• Find out about your transport from the prison to your new accommodation. 
• Return any books you have borrowed from the prison.
•  Start planning what you want to take with you and pack what you can.
• Check with your personal officer what you can throw away and what you can leave behind. Put the property you want to take with you in bags and take them to reception.
• When you are released, you will get the money from your prison account(s) in cash. If you have a lot of money in your account(s), some prisons might give you part of it in cash and the rest as a cheque. If you want all of it in cash, you may need to ask for that, before your day of release. You will need to sign to confirm you’ve received your money.
• Try and prepare yourself mentally for release. This will not be easy, but think about what you want to achieve. You could write down a few goals to help you stay focused. Don’t be hard on yourself if it takes longer than you expected to reach your goals.

• Read your release papers carefully and then sign them.
•  If you need medication, go to the discharge nurse. You will have to sign a form when you collect your medicine.
• Sign a form to say you have collected your property. Make sure to check you have everything before signing. Anything left behind will be thrown away and you cannot ask for it back.
• Make sure you know where you are getting your transport from.
• Make sure you see your probation officer on time or you will be in breach of your licence and may have to go back to prison.
• Go to your new accommodation and make sure you know any rules that you need to follow. Breaking rules in your accommodation could cause you problems.
•  Sign any documents to do with your accommodation that you need to. Make sure you read them carefully and keep a copy for yourself.
•  If you are in a hostel, you can ask your key worker to help you.
• It will not be easy when you are released if you do not have a support network. If you are in a hostel there are people who can help you. Remember the Samaritans or a support agency in your area can help you with your feelings.

• If you have a question about Universal Credit then call 0800 328 5644 (0800 012 1331 if you are in Northern Ireland).
•  If you have a long-term disability or a medical reason that you cannot work then you should apply for PIP or ADP.
• For pension queries call the Pension Service.
• Register at the local doctors. It can take a few weeks to arrange an appointment or any medicine you need. If you need medicine right away then call the doctors and they will help. See Register with a GP section
• If you have the contact details of someone you trust who can support you then you should contact them.

• You will sometimes need to have documents to prove where you live. Until you start receiving letters and bills you can use your tenancy agreement.
• Visit the bank and apply for any cards or deposit books you may need. You will need to take your photo ID with you and proof of where you live. You may want to read our section on opening a bank account.
• Set up an email account if you do not already have one. A lot of online services need you to have email to use them. See open an email account
• Join your local library so you can borrow books and use the internet. The people who work in the library can help you with setting up an email account and using the internet.
• You can go to your local Citizens Advice or a Law Centre for help. They can help you if you have debt or need legal advice or need help filling out forms or applications. We have also listed organisations that offer free debt advice that can help in the Hardman Directory.
•  If you have Universal Credit make an appointment at your local Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible. You will need to take your photo ID with you to the first appointment.
• If you are in temporary housing you should apply for permanent housing. You could start by going to the local council and looking at local newspapers.
• If you follow a religion you could contact your local place of worship. They may be able to provide you with support.
• Try and make time for short walks so you can clear your head and relax.

• If you can work you may want to apply for jobs.
• Make sure your CV is up to date and has the right address, email and phone number on it. For help with writing your CV you could search the Hardman Directory for organisations who can help.
• Some jobs need you to do a DBS check before you start work. You can still apply for jobs even if you have a criminal record. Do not let DBS checks put you off applying for jobs.
• If you had any doctor or hospital appointments booked while you were in prison you should call and have them moved to your local doctor or hospital.
•  You may want to book an appointment at the opticians to get your eyes checked. You may need glasses.
• You may want to register at your local dentist. It is important to look after your teeth.
• If your next accommodation is likely to be unfurnished, you may be able to find cheap or free furniture. You may also find some grants in the Hardman Directory.
  

• Keep looking for jobs if you do not already have one.
• Hopefully by now you can move to a permanent address.
• … but if you don’t have a permanent address, there are a number of places you can go to around the country which offer support, classes and free food. Ask probation or phone the national homeless charities helplines to see if they know of places in your town or city.
• If you are able to move to another address you need to let your bank know.
• You may need to contact the companies that provide water, gas and electricity and tell them your new address. 
• If you are getting benefits then you need to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that you have moved.
• If you are moving to your own place, tell your local council your new address so you can pay council tax. If you are living alone or are disabled you may be able to pay less council tax.
• You may need to apply for a television licence. This can be paid by direct debit.
• You can sign up for free courses and join local organisations. These are a great way to have fun and meet new people.
• You can also think about volunteering. Charities require all sorts of help and there are regional and government schemes that promote volunteering. Volunteering can help show your willingness to work and may lead to a paid position.

Now you can start living your life and making the most out of your new- found freedom!

Preparing for debt advice

Before calling or attending an appointment with a debt advice charity, it helps to have some key details ready. Make a list of:

• Your income – money you receive (e.g. wages or benefits)
• Your outgoings – money you spend (e.g. rent, bills, food)
• Your debts – money you owe

Having this information will help you and your adviser understand your financial situation better.

If you have mental health problems and your financial situation is affecting you, you may find it helpful to complete a Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF). This form was created by debt and health professionals to ensure creditors handle cases sensitively. It must be completed by a medical or social care professional.

 You can find more information about the DMHEF here.

 Seeking support

There are organisations that offer advice and support to help you manage your debt. They must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so look for the FCA logo on their website or leaflets. These organisations offer personalised advice, guide you through your options, and help you create a plan to reduce your debt.

There are many support organisations available to help you with debt and money issues. Here’s a list of UK-wide organisations:

National Debtline

Call 0808 808 4000 (England and Wales), Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm and

Saturday, 9:30am-1pm

www.nationaldebtline.org

Citizens Advice

Debt helpline (England) 0800 240 4420

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Advicelink Cymru

Call 0800 702 2020

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information/advicelink-cymru

Citizens Advice Scotland

Call 0800 028 1456

www.cas.org.uk

AdviceNI

Call 0800 915 4604

www.adviceni.net

StepChange Debt Charity

Call 0800 138 1111

www.stepchange.org

Debt Advice Foundation

Call 0800 043 40 50, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm

www.debtadvicefoundation.org

You can also get help from the Money and Pensions Service and your local council or housing association if you’re a tenant.

HMPPS works with the six largest commercial banks to ensure that, as the end of sentence approaches, all prisoners are able to apply for a bank account. If the application is accepted then the normal documentation, debit card and PIN are held in ‘valuable property’ until release and money can be deposited into the account.

On release you can use the account immediately by activating it in a local branch. Prisons manage the scheme in different ways according to the needs of their population and in most cases Probation will help you. In some cases – for example at several open prisons – prisoners are able to open credit union accounts into which they can deposit savings.

Banks stress that, whether assisted or not, you should complete the application documentation as accurately as possible, in particular details relating to your previous addresses. Applications flagged by bank systems as containing fraudulent information can cause severe difficulties with future applications.

If you find yourself walking out of the gate without a bank account you will need to get together every bit of identification you can. If you are going to a hostel then make sure you ask your support worker for help, they will know which banks are easiest for someone with little or no paperwork to get started. They will also be able to write you a letter or even come with you to help. If you have a mentor then do ask them for assistance.

Every bank will have its own system but all need proof of identity and proof of address. The most common things that are accepted, assuming you don’t have a birth certificate, passport or driving licence are:

• ID card (Citizens Card is the most common)
• letter from local or national Government department
• tenancy agreement (you will have one of these from your hostel)
• HMRC correspondence with name and National Insurance number on (you can request this whilst in prison)
• letter from your doctor, solicitor or probation officer/social worker

prison release papers

There is a very thorough guide to opening a bank account on the Nerdwallet website. It’s a good place to look if you are not sure how to open an account while you are in prison, or upon your release.
www.nerdwallet.com/uk/current-accounts/prison-bank-account-guide/