What's the difference between Universal Credit, Job Seekers and Employment and Support Allowance? Expand Universal Credit is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or are on a low or no income. Universal Credit will replace all benefits such as Job seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and housing benefit. Changes are being gradually introduced into the benefit system. Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is the widely recognised benefit for people of working age, who are out of work, or work less than 16 hours a week on average; JSA is for people who are ready and willing to work. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is the successor of incapacity benefit; it is paid to individuals who have an illness or disability with the aim of supporting them back into work. You may get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if your illness or disability affects your ability to work and you are: under State pension age not getting Statutory Sick Pay or Statutory Maternity Pay and you have not gone back to work not getting Jobseeker’s Allowance
What do I do if I fail my Habitual Resident Test (HRT)? Expand Most individuals fail the HRT because they did not disclose the fact that they have been deported back to the UK. You do need to disclose to Jobcentre Plus if you completed a sentence or were held in an immigration detention centre. A person who has been deported is exempt from the HRT but may still be asked to attend an HRT interview and provide evidence. Prisoners Abroad will provide supporting letters. If you have failed your HRT please contact Prisoners Abroad immediately so we can provide advice.
I can’t receive money because I don’t have a bank account, what do I do? Expand All benefits are paid via a bank account, to open a bank account it is likely that you will need a full passport and proof of an address. Most individuals arrive back with no identification and are waiting to be housed in accommodation; there are alternatives methods to receive payments if you cannot access a high street bank account: Simple payment method: Simple payment is a card which all benefits can be paid onto, you would access the payment by going to a participating shop and collecting your payment by showing your Identification. The Job Centre will only set up this method if you can prove that you have exceptional circumstances and cannot open a valid bank account.
Why is the Jobcentre sanctioning me? Expand To get JSA/Universal Credit/benefits you have to meet certain work-related requirements. There are the things you have to do to prepare for work, find work, get better paid work, or increase your hours, like going to job interviews. If you fail to meet one of these requirements, you can be sanctioned; this means your benefit is reduced for a certain period. Sanctions tend to be more severe if there has been a previous sanction. To avoid being sanctioned be on time for all appointments with the Jobcentre, complete all forms and paperwork provided by your personal advisor, keep to your Jobseekers agreement and access the Universal Credit website at least twice a week to show you are looking for work.
Can I apply for a pension? Expand There are two parts to the State pension – the basic State pension, and the additional State pension, which is only for employees. You qualify for the basic State pension by reaching state pension age and making 30 years' worth of National Insurance contributions.
What information is useful for me to obtain before returning to the UK? Expand You need to bring as much identification along with you as possible. You passport is the most essential form of photo ID which you will need for a variety of purposes (e.g. claiming benefits, securing accommodation). See our how we help after release section for details of how to apply for a passport. If you cannot obtain a full passport, ask consular staff to issue you with a certified copy of your Emergency Travel Document (ETD). The following are useful documents to bring along with you: driving licence, birth certificate, National Insurance number (if you have one). If you do not already have access to these documents then ask a friend or relatives to obtain these for you in preparation for your return. If you have a medical (physical or mental) conditions which requires ongoing treatment or medication, it will be very useful for you to bring back documents relating to your condition which have been issues by a doctor, counsellor or psychologist. Evidence of previous diagnosis and treatment will mean you will be able to obtain the treatment you need more quickly. Remember to try and bring a supply of medication you need with you so you have enough to cover the period before you manage to arrange to see a doctor. It is also important to bring any information relating to your offence or sentence served (including deportation papers), as some official bodies will require evidence that you have served a sentence overseas and that you were deported to the UK rather than coming here of your own accord. If you are coming back to the UK with a child who has been born whilst you have been incarcerated please ensure that you return with the birth papers, as this is very important for benefits, housing and medical needs.
Will Prisoners Abroad meet me at the airport? Expand No, unfortunately Prisoners Abroad does not have the resources to meet clients as they arrive back into the UK. When you arrive back at Heathrow or Gatwick airport please ask at an information point for Travel Care. Travel Care will alert Prisoners Abroad that you have arrived at the airport, and, depending on your circumstances they can provide financial assistance with the cost of travel to our offices as well as giving you directions. See our how we help after release section for details on Travel Care's opening times. If you arrive outside office hours, you may need to wait in the airport until the Travel Care office opens.
Will I be able to get a job? Expand You will be able to obtain a job as long as you have a National Insurance number. If you do not have a National Insurance number you can obtain a temporary number which will enable you to work. If you are claiming Jobseekers' Allowance you can obtain assistance with helping you back to work, for example financial help with travel and work clothes. Prisoners Abroad works very closely with other organisations which specialise in employment who will be able to advise and support you returning to work.
Will I be able to get a bank account? Expand You will be able to open a bank account but you need to have proof that you are a UK resident, as well as a full British passport or driving licence. To enable the process of opening a bank account to run smoothly you will also need to acquire household bills in your name. It may also be a good idea to obtain a letter from your previous bank manager stating how long you have banked with them prior to coming to the UK and, if possible, a bank statement.
Will I be able to get medical care? Expand Yes, Prisoners Abroad encourages all clients on their return to the UK to receive a full medical check-up where possible, especially if you have any previous or existing physical or mental health problems. If you have a medical condition which requires medication, you can obtain the prescribed medication for free if you are claiming benefits. Please ensure that you obtain past medical documents to help the GP diagnose your health problems and prescribe medication. It may take a few days to set up an appointment, so where possible try to bring two weeks' worth of medication with you to tide you over.
Will I be able to get dental care? Expand Dental care is available and is also free if you in receipt of benefits.
How long will Prisoners Abroad assist me after my return? Expand Prisoners Abroad specialises in crisis intervention and work hard to assist you financially and emotionally through the first 3-4 weeks. Once you are within the benefit system Prisoners Abroad will not be able to provide ongoing financial support. Prisoners Abroad will still offer support and advice for as long as it is needed; we will ensure that correct referrals are made on your behalf so you receive necessary support to help with your resettlement plan.
Will my prison record abroad affect me here in the UK? Expand Information about your conviction may be passed on to officials in the UK. When applying for work, by law you will have to disclose any information regarding any criminal offences for which you have convicted in the UK or abroad. Please refer to applying for work with a criminal record for more information about this.
Do I have to disclose that I was deported? Expand If you are claiming benefits you will need to complete what is called a Habitual Residency Test (HRT); this is a test to assess whether you normally live in the UK. The HRT was introduced by the government in 1994 to try and stop benefit tourism (EU citizens living temporarily in one EU country and claiming benefits before moving on to another country.) If you are a deported person you will usually pass the test. You therefore need to provide evidence of having been deported. If you fail the HRT test you will not be eligible for any government assistance until a period of residence has been established (usually 6 months).
Will I be able to claim benefit for travel expenditure? Expand You will be able to claim travel expenses from the Job Centre if you are travelling to and from a job interview, or to a training course to which the Job Centre has referred you. Prisoners Abroad will help you pay for travel for the first couple of weeks of you being in London, or until your benefits have been processed; again this depends on individual circumstances.
How can I contact my family members? Expand When you first arrive in the UK, Prisoners Abroad has the facility for you to telephone your family to let them know that you have arrived. As we are a charity we cannot offer ongoing use of a telephone free of charge. Phone cards are cheap and available in all areas of London.
Can my partner and children join me in the UK? Expand This is possible, although your family will not simply be able to book a flight to the UK without planning in advance. They are likely to need to apply for UK residency, and it is unlikely that they will be able to apply for financial support from the UK government. Depending on individual circumstances, the process will need to start from the country in which your children are residing. They will need to make sure that they have obtained a British passport and have the correct documents. Please refer to our section on separation and loss for more information about this.
Will the UK residents accept me for who I am? Expand London is a multicultural city, and the UK government supports people who want to make a change in their lives. There are many opportunities for people to rebuild their lives and start anew. Many people from different parts of the world have decided to settle in London. Read our section on life in the UK for more information.
Can Prisoners Abroad still work with me after I've been housed? Expand Yes. While we want to empower people to do as much as they can for themselves we understand that there are new responsibilities and challenges that arise when you move into longer-term accommodation and that the process of feeling confident and positive about your situation can take a while. We would encourage you to stay in contact with Prisoners Abroad if you need some advice or have a problem you want to discuss, or even if you just want a chat with a friendly voice. We may direct you to another organisation if there is a suitable service more locally to you that can help you.