Pensions: Prisoners
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether prisoners above pension age receive pensions in accordance with the contributions they have made.
Answered by Torsten Bell
In relation to private or occupational pensions, a custodial sentence does not generally affect an individual's entitlement to receive benefits from a private or workplace pension. Members may continue to receive pension payments in accordance with the rules of their pension scheme.
Prisoners above State Pension age do not receive State Pension payments while they are still serving a custodial sentence. This is not exclusive to State Pension - in the UK, the general rule is that prisoners do not receive Social Security benefits.
An individual who has served a criminal offence must inform DWP of their release to enable DWP to begin or to reinstate their payments. Upon receiving notification from the individual, reinstatement of State Pension is usually completed instantaneously.
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