Prisoners serving a sentence - Benefits you can't get - Serving a sentence
Check how to manage your benefits if you're a prisoner serving a sentence
- Last reviewed 17 April 2026
Benefits you can't get - Serving a sentence
While you are in prison, you are not entitled in your own right, or as part of someone else’s claim, to:
- Pension Credit
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker's Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Maternity Allowance
- Reduced Earnings Allowance
- State Pension
- Bereavement Benefits
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Statutory Maternity Pay
- Statutory Adoption Pay
- Statutory Paternity Pay
- Winter Fuel Payment
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
You can continue getting the benefits listed below for the first 28 days in prison, before it stops:
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland)
- Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland)
- Scottish Adult DLA
If you were awarded PIP or ADP while you were a prisoner, you are not paid until you’re released from prison.
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