Money Questions - If Someone Goes to Prison

Jamie27

Anybody know what the situation is financialy when someone goes to prison?

I'm going back to court just after Christmas from a GBH charge (sounds bad I know) and am expecting the worst. Was just hoping if somebody knows about the money side of stuff on here especially about mortgages and benefits?

I'm 27 and I have a mortgage for a year - I work as a electrician and earn a decent ammount - used all my savings for the deposit on that. I have a 4 year old and a second boy on the way in 3 months. Now if I'm not earning there won't be anything to pay the mortgage with. I don't want to lose the house so id there a way around this. Do the banks allow people to put off payments because of stuff like this?

My partner does some part time work as she is at home with our kid. What benefit is she entitled to if I'm not around? She is pretty down with everything at the moment especially with her being pregnant. I know what I did but it had nothing to do with her any my son so I just hope they won't have to suffer.

benood

Sorry don't know the answers but I daresay that there are loads of benefits available. :rolleyes: A premptive trip to the citizens advice bureau would be sensible.

Perhaps next time you'll think about the consequences before getting into the fight.

Running_Horse

In addition to any consequences of the offence committed (I have never heard of mortgage lenders giving payment holidays for prison sentences), you may be liable for damages caused to your victim. I'd sue if it was me.

Does your partner have somewhere to stay while you are in prison? Probably your only hope would be to rent out the property while inside, to cover the mortgage. Unless it is a short sentence, in which case a loan to cover mortgage payments might be worth thinking about.

Of course that won't support your family, who will need benefits.

arlybarly

benood wrote: »

Sorry don't know the answers but I daresay that there are loads of benefits available. :rolleyes: A premptive trip to the citizens advice bureau would be sensible.

Perhaps next time you'll think about the consequences before getting into the fight.

exactly....!

Janepig

I don't know where you live Jamie but there may be an organisation near you that helps families of prisoners. Here's a link to the prisoners' families helpline anyway. I'm not condoning what you did, but if you do get sent to prison then your family will have to continue without you and there are organisations that can help and advise. I have a friend who runs such a charity in Swansea and I think it's such a worthwhile thing to do.

Jxx

Savvy_Sue

Has your solicitor given you any clue about a 'worst case' scenario?

Did you plead guilty or offer anything else in mitigation?

Has your situation changed for the better since the offence?

Will your and your partner's families be in a position to rally round and help out at all?

Don't feel you have to post answers to the above, they're just the kind of things you should mention when talking to CAB, solicitor etc. It's good that you're looking ahead, and trying to work out how to keep the family afloat if you get a prison sentence. Do get in touch with the people janepig mentioned, they will be well placed to advise you.

One thought: your partner may be able to claim the 25% reduction on council tax, not sure, but worth checking. It might depend on the length of sentence - more likely for a longer rather than shorter sentence.

Jamie27

Thanks for the advice - really helpful.

I half expected some comments but they don't bother me. I know what I did and am paying the price - more than you know. We just started talking about the financial stuff over the weekend and I posted here - just want to do the best that I can for my girlfriend and son and future son. I've always worked 2 years with what I'm doing now and 6 years in the army so I've done my bit for the country and I will take whatever punishment is coming. Prison doesn't bother me too much but I just want to take care of things best I can.

Anyway to answer the questions - yeah my girlfriend can go back home if she really needs to but with 2 kids that wouldn't be great and it would be a long way from where we live now and where I will probably end up in prison. Don't know about renting out because don't know what I'll get - have been told to expect something from 12 months to 3 years.

Info on Council Tax and Prisoners Families Helpline is stuff I didn't know so I'll find out more about that.

rainbowangel

And to the two negative posts, the guy's asked for help so he can try to sort stuff out for his partner and children. He clearly knows he's in the wrong and I found those posts unnecessary. No I'm not condoning what he did either, we don't know the circumstances but hey, it's happened and he's taking his punishment on the chin and sounds like he'll learn for it.

[/quote]


Totally agree...

Let he with no sin cast the first stone.

If you don't have any thing nice/helpful to say.... Simple... Don't bother to say it. He has come here for help not for a lecture.

cazziebo

Jamie - don't want to fire up any debates so I'll just echo what rainbow and pokem have said - good on you for thinking of your family. there are a few agencies who will help - sorry I don't know who they are but I do know people who have LOs inside and some of them are well-supported, although not necessarily financially.

Hope your family can all be together before too long.

x

Js_Other_Half

Jamie27 wrote: »

I've always worked 2 years with what I'm doing now and 6 years in the army so I've done my bit for the country and I will take whatever punishment is coming. Prison doesn't bother me too much but I just want to take care of things best I can.
.

I know you've probably thought of it, but have you been in touch with any ex-service charities? The best known one is probably http://www.ssafa.org.uk/ , but there are others - here is a list with contact details:
http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/searchresult.asp?category=EXSV

The other thing to consider now is to get some help if you were/are suffering from some emotional fallout from your time in the army. Again there may be some help available from one of the charities.

Savvy_Sue

Good thought: you're standing up and taking responsibility for what you did, you're not blaming it on bad experiences in the forces but it's depressing how many ex-servicemen do end up in a really bad place (prison, homeless etc) so do get whatever support you can!