East Sussex Reoffending and IOM Needs Assessment Finance, Benefit and Debt and Offending

Why is it important? There is a strong correlation between reoffending and finance, benefit and debt 48% of offenders will have a history of debt Reoffending by ex prisoners costs the country £11 billion a year Over half of people leaving prison will be reconvicted within one year The most vulnerable time is the transition period from prison to life outside, the three weeks post release being the most critical period for reoffending (Ministry of Justice)

Finance, Benefit and Debt and Prison Only 54% of prisoners in the South East had Bank or Building Society accounts prior to their sentence starting (NOMS survey of 111 short term prisoners) 46% said they were in debt, just over a third of whom owed money to a single creditor 73% of prisoners surveyed were financially excluded, and 31% had faced real financial problems in the preceding 3 years (LSC survey of 133 prisoners) Over one-third of people behind with their bills fell further into debt while in prison. Offenders may wait from between two and six weeks for a benefits claim to be processed on release from prison. The discharge grant paid is £46

Local Need Between 18 and 22% of offenders on the probation caseload between 2008 and 2009 were identified as having a need relating to finance, benefit or debt

Facilitated Discussion In your experience… What are your thoughts on the findings on the financial inclusion needs of offenders in East Sussex? (e.g. is this larger/smaller than expected) Are there areas of East Sussex where you think there is more or less need? In your experience, are there any groups of offenders who are more likely to have an unmet financial inclusion need? (e.g. older offenders, BME groups of offenders) In your experience, do offenders experience any further barriers in communicating their finance, benefit or debt related needs and seeking support?

Workshop – Part 2

Undertaken by East Sussex Advice Plus Limited sample size of 15. Methods included telephone interviews and in depth discussion in two focus groups Service users came from Seaview, people attending Drugs Services and Probation Questions focused on type of sentencing, Housing, Debt, Employment and Benefits. Offender Consultation

Consultation Findings Welfare Benefits Benefit advice which could have helped offenders retain accommodation was not given to the majority of those on remand (64%) or in prison (55%). Those who received help from a DWP advisor before they left prison received their benefits more quickly on release; within 1-2 weeks. Of the remaining 81%, 37% didn’t receive benefits for a month and 36% had to wait between 4-6 weeks. 55% of people leaving prison and claiming benefits applied for a Crisis Loan and 45% made an application for a Community Care Grant. However, 2 people weren’t aware that they could apply for this Grant

Offender Consultation 47% felt that help to claim benefits or manage their money would have stopped them from offending or reoffending. Debt Only 4 people noted that they had had problems with debt, of those, 2 felt that this contributed to their offending and that help in sorting out their debt would have stopped them offending or reoffending. Whilst there may be a small need for debt advice this is not as pressing or apparent as the need for other accommodation or welfare benefits advice

Brighton Housing Trust – Eastbourne Advice Centre Specialist Housing and Welfare Benefit Advice Hastings Advice & Representation Centre General and Specialist Welfare Benefit Advice Newhaven Advice Hub General Advice & access to Specialist Housing and Welfare Benefit Advice and Money Advice Citizens Advice Hailsham General Advice & access to Specialist Debt, Housing and Welfare Benefit Advice Citizens Advice Lewes General advice, with specialist advice in Welfare Benefit and Money Advice and access to County Court Helpdesk Advisor Citizens Advice Seaford General Advice and specialist Money Advice Citizens Advice Rother General Advice & specialist Money Advice Citizen Advice Uckfield General Advice, Specialist Debt & access to Specialist Housing and Welfare Benefit Advice Citizens Advice Crowborough General Advice & access to Specialist Debt, Housing and Welfare Benefit Advice Citizens Advice 1066 General Advice & Specialist Debt Advice Brighton Housing Trust – Hastings Advice Specialist Housing Advice Citizens Advice Eastbourne General Advice and Specialist Employment and Debt Advice. Specialist Advice in Equalities (employment)

Facilitated Discussion In your experience… What are your thoughts in relation to the findings of the offender consultation? Where are the greatest gaps in finance, benefit and debt related services? (now and in the future) How can these gaps be overcome? What are the advantages and pitfalls of service provision as it is currently structured for offenders? Are there any other means of supporting offenders with finance, benefit and debt needs to resettle/reform? What are the advantages/pitfalls with these?

Coffee Break (15 minutes)

Workshop – Part 3

Integrated Offender Management Discusses people who have the greatest need and are most likely to reoffend at weekly multi-agency meetings Aims to put a package of support around clients that meets their needs holistically Ensures intervention is directed where the need/harm is greatest

How can the service you represent link in with the Integrated Offender Management approach to ensure the finance, benefit and debt needs of offenders are met? Facilitated Discussion