Financial assistance and reducing costs for person being held on remand

garden_treehouse

Hi,

I hope this topic is an appropriate home for my thread. None of the options match the situation, I have selected one of the relevant categories.

My sibling is currently being held on remand awaiting their trial in a few months, they will not be granted bail and currently are unable to generate an income.

They rent a property from a housing association and were not claiming any housing related benefits before entering prison, the rent was paid fully through income from employment.

The benefit rules state that they can't make a new universal credit claim while in prison, even when being held on remand (having not yet been found guilty, or given a sentence).

They wish to hold on to the house until the conclusion of the trial, giving up the property now could mean a multi-year wait for a new property should they be found not guilty and free.

I am helping with their financial situation, trying to reduce bills where possible. 

I am currently:

• arranging their council tax exemption
  
• talking to their energy provider regarding access to their hardship fund
• talking to their water provider regarding access to their hardship fund
• talking to their housing provider regarding possible reductions in rental payments
  
• cancelling services no longer in use such as broadband and mobile contracts

I wanted to ask this very knowledgeable forum if they had any additional ideas of how I could reduce financial costs for my sibling?

The highest cost which can't be cancelled is the rent, unfortunately my family are having to cover this cost in my siblings absence.

I am in discussions with the housing provider, trying to reduce the cost if possible.

Is anyone aware of any others ways of reducing the rent?

Or, any ways outside of housing benefit to gain access to financial support to help with rental payments?

To reiterate, my sibling is on remand. The trial has not yet been conducted.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

gwynlas

Have you tried https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/prisoner ?

garden_treehouse

Thank you gwynlas for replying.

I did find this organisation and they were very helpful, their website search helped identify the hardship funds available at both the energy and water providers.

It is the rent which is causing the biggest challenge. Benefits have been explored and seem to lead to a dead end, universal credit would open access to housing support but those on remand are unable to make a new claim.

I am working with the housing association, attempting to bring down the cost. Meanwhile, I am trying to identify if there are other avenues I could explore e.g. access to financial assistance via grants I am yet to find.

Thanks again for your response.