Life after release from prison

Leaving prison can involve many urgent tasks at once. This guide explains what to plan before release and where to find help in the first days and weeks afterwards.

This is general information, not legal advice. The support you can receive depends on your circumstances, licence conditions, immigration status, health needs, local services and where you live.

What has changed?

This updated guide now starts with a release day checklist and explains licence and probation duties. It updates guidance on housing, homelessness, benefits, ID, banking, healthcare and medication, and adds sections on family safety, domestic abuse, children, debt, immigration, complaints and practical support.

Before you leave prison

Make a plan for your first day and first week. Ask your prison offender manager, resettlement team, healthcare team or probation practitioner about:

Ask for important details in writing where possible. Keep your release papers, licence, contact numbers and appointments together.

See GOV.UK: help before leaving prison.

Your licence and probation

You may be released on licence. Your written licence states the conditions you must follow, such as where you live, who you must report to, where you can go, who you can contact, a curfew, electronic monitoring or treatment requirements.

Follow every condition in your licence. If you cannot attend a probation appointment or meet a condition, contact probation immediately using the details in your release paperwork. Do not wait until the next appointment.

Tell probation early about homelessness, illness, disability, caring responsibilities, family safety concerns, transport problems or another issue that affects your ability to comply.

See GOV.UK: guide to probation.

Where you will live

Tell prison resettlement staff and your probation practitioner as early as possible if you may have nowhere safe to stay on release. Ask them to help you contact the local authority.

A referral does not guarantee accommodation. The help available depends on your circumstances, eligibility, local connection, risk, household needs and local services.

In England, local authorities have duties to consider homelessness help where a person is homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. Housing rules and routes differ in Wales.

Some people may be eligible for probation linked or supported accommodation, but places are limited and are not automatic.

See GOV.UK: homelessness guidance for people with an offending history and GOV.UK: support when someone leaves prison.

Money and benefits

Check your benefit options before release if you can. Universal Credit, New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, housing cost support and Discretionary Housing Payments have different eligibility rules.

A new Universal Credit claim normally cannot be made while you are still in prison. Claim as soon as possible after release because it is not normally backdated. A Jobcentre can provide computer access and help if you do not have internet access.

You may be able to ask for a Universal Credit advance if you cannot wait for the first payment. An advance is normally repaid from later benefit payments. Ask how much will be deducted and for how long before accepting it.

A Discretionary Housing Payment is not a general release grant. It may be available where someone already receives eligible housing support but needs help with a housing cost shortfall.

See GOV.UK: Universal Credit for prison leavers and GOV.UK: benefits and prison.

ID, bank account and phone

Ask before release what identification you will have and whether you need help opening or using a bank account. A bank account is not always needed to start a Universal Credit claim, but payment cannot usually be made until you give payment details.

If you do not have a fixed address, ask whether you can use a trusted person’s address, a hostel address or another approved address for your benefit claim.

Ask the resettlement team where you can access a phone, internet and Jobcentre support if you do not have your own device.

Healthcare, medication and mental health

Before release, ask prison healthcare for:

In England, prison healthcare will normally arrange up to 28 days of medication on release. If you urgently need repeat medication after release, call NHS 111.

If you are in immediate danger, at risk of harming yourself or someone else, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent mental health support but are not in immediate danger, contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option where available.

In England, RECONNECT may support adults leaving prison who have an identified health need and may find it difficult to use community services. Ask prison healthcare, probation or your GP whether it is available in your area.

See NHS England: support for people released from prison and NHS England: RECONNECT. Healthcare arrangements in Wales are different.

Work, training and criminal record disclosure

A prison work coach or Jobcentre may be able to help with job searching, training, applications and interviews. Tell them about any licence conditions, health needs, caring responsibilities or housing issues that affect what you can do.

You do not always have to tell an employer about a conviction. It depends on the job, the question asked, whether the conviction is spent and whether the role is exempt from the usual rehabilitation rules.

Some roles are eligible for a Standard or Enhanced DBS check. These checks can show more information than a Basic DBS check, but what is disclosed depends on the role, filtering rules and the DBS process.

Ask what level of DBS check is being requested and get advice before answering if you are unsure. See GOV.UK: Rehabilitation of Offenders Act guidance.

Family, children and staying safe

Tell probation, housing services or healthcare if you cannot safely return to a family home, if there are child contact restrictions, if you are a parent with caring responsibilities, or if domestic abuse is a risk.

Do not return to a victim’s or vulnerable person’s address if your licence, bail, court order or safety plan prevents it.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Ask probation, social care, housing or a specialist domestic abuse service for urgent safeguarding help where needed.

For family support, see GOV.UK: support for families and friends of prisoners.

Debt and other money problems

Tell your resettlement worker, work coach or probation practitioner if you have debts, fines, rent arrears, benefit repayments or other money problems. Ask what advice service can help.

Do not ignore letters about court fines, rent, benefits, debt or immigration. Ask for help to understand deadlines and repayment arrangements.

Immigration issues

If you are not a British citizen, have an unresolved immigration matter or have had contact from the Home Office, get immigration advice before release. Immigration status can affect housing, work, benefits, detention and removal.

Tell your offender manager or resettlement worker if you have immigration papers, a reporting requirement or an upcoming Home Office appointment.

Support from other people

You may be able to get practical or peer support from local services and charities. Ask probation, prison resettlement staff, a Jobcentre, library or local advice service to help you find support if you do not have internet access.

The GOV.UK prison leaver support page lists organisations that may be able to help with housing, work, debt, family contact and disclosure of criminal records. See GOV.UK: support when someone leaves prison.

If something goes wrong

Raise a problem with the service that made the decision or is providing the support. This may be the prison, Probation Service, healthcare provider, Jobcentre or local authority.

Keep copies of your release papers, appointment letters, applications, complaint forms, dates and responses. A complaint about service is different from challenging a licence condition, recall, benefit decision, housing decision or immigration decision. Get legal advice quickly if a deadline applies.

Key points to remember

Official sources

This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Get advice from a qualified criminal, prison, housing, welfare benefits or immigration adviser about your own circumstances.