Prisoners and Welfare Benefits

Learn how sentencing impacts benefits and housing, and how to support prisoners and their families through the system.

Course overview

This CPD-accredited course equips professionals with the knowledge and confidence to support prisoners, prison leavers, and their families with welfare benefits and housing. It covers the impact of imprisonment on benefit entitlement, Universal Credit claims, conditionality, and sanctions, as well as practical steps for homelessness prevention and reintegration. The course also explores specialist benefits for disabled prisoners, older prisoners, and families, alongside real-life case studies and practical checklists.

What will you learn?

1. Understand how imprisonment affects benefit entitlement and claims
2. Learn the rules for Universal Credit and other benefits during custody and on release
3. Explore conditionality groups, sanctions, and exemptions for prison leavers
4. Identify housing and homelessness duties for prisoners and their families
5. Access practical tools, checklists, and support networks for effective reintegration

Course Contents Highlights:

• Impact of prison sentences on benefits (UC, legacy benefits, disability benefits, pensions)
• Universal Credit rules for prisoners and prison leavers
• Conditionality groups, sanctions, and exemptions
• Housing and homelessness duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act
• Support for families, carers, and kinship arrangements
• Specialist benefits: PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance
• Practical checklists for entering and leaving prison
• Case studies, quizzes, and real-life scenarios

This course is ideal for:

• Prison resettlement officers
• Probation and offender managers
• Housing officers
• Welfare rights advisors
• Support workers and case managers
• Anyone working with prisoners, ex-offenders, or their families

After this course, you will:

• Gain confidence in advising on benefits for prisoners and their families
• Understand the impact of sentencing, remand, and release on welfare rights
• Learn practical strategies for homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment
• Improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals through early intervention
• Access resources for multi-agency working and specialist support

This course is CPD Accredited. Trainees will receive a CPD Certificate and 7 points following course completion.