prisoners benefits?

devilivus

Quick question, mainly out of pure curiosity.
One of my neighbours has been in prison for about a year after being found guilty of armed robbery.
I found out that he has been recieving benefits the whole time he's been in prison of about £190 per fortnight being paid into his bank.
Im not sure what benefit it is for.
Could either be a housing type benefit? : - He owned a house before being sent down but it has since been repossessed.

Or I believe it could also be a benefit from depression from what I konw (incapacity or something?)

I just found it odd.
Is it usual for prisoners to keep getting benefit money?
My intital thinking was that maybe the person hadn't told the benefits people that they were in prison and so they just keep paying the money? (only a guess though, hence why im asking)

I'm Just curious.

cheers

cosmic-dust

This might cure your curiosity.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/p_prisoners_and_benefits.pdf

NASA_2

The Prison Service are supposed to tell the department when someone goes into prison - not necessarily on the day they go in but within a few days so that benefits can be suspended. Given the numbers this can sometimes be missed but, strangely enough, quite a few prisoners are good enough to advise the department when they are released that they have been in prison.

As the guide above states - some help is given to prisoners.