Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing benefits from foreign national offenders.

In order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits such as Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments, an individual must either be a British or Irish citizen or hold a valid UK immigration status that allows them to access such benefits. If DWP is made aware of a change in a customer’s circumstances, either by the customer directly or by another government department (such as the Home Office), then the relevant claim will be reviewed. This includes if immigration status is cancelled due to criminality, or if a customer is sent to prison/young offenders’ institution or is in custody awaiting trial (on remand).

If a customer is sent to prison, all benefit payments except the following will stop: housing payments part of Universal Credit (in some cases), tax credits and Child Benefit (in some cases), Housing Benefit (for shorter sentences), and council tax assistance (if eligible). Additional information on benefit eligibility whilst in prison or remand is available at: https://www.gov.uk/benefits-and-prison/benefits-that-stop-or-are-suspended.

If immigration status ends, they will lose entitlement to benefits.