Convicted killers and serious sexual offenders detained in hospital will lose their entitlement to benefits under regulations laid in Parliament today.
Under the current system, offenders detained under a hospital order can be paid over £800 a month in Universal Credit — amounting to thousands of pounds over several years.
The change is expected to save tens of millions of pounds a year and will stop hundreds of offenders receiving benefits from early next year, including those already in hospital and future cases.
Those transferred to mental health hospitals from prison are already banned from claiming. The new regulations will extend the ban to patients detained in mental health hospitals who have been found guilty of a dozen serious offences, focused on violent and sexual crimes.
Ministers said it will end the “double provision” where people have their bed and board fully funded by the NHS but can still claim benefits.
The move follows campaigns by families of victims in high-profile cases, including the loved ones of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche and the victims of the Nottingham attacks — Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said: We said we’d act to tackle this gross unfairness and we’re delivering on that promise. For too long these violent criminals have had their living costs paid by the taxpayer twice over, while their victims and families paid the price. That ends today.
The decision will not affect people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 who have not committed an offence. Anyone detained under a hospital order will continue to receive appropriate mental health support.
Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, said: This is long overdue, and simply the right thing to do. It was a disgrace that Calocane and offenders like him have ever received taxpayers’ money.
Leon Westcarr, uncle of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, said: The loss of my niece can never be undone, but I am encouraged that this long-standing injustice has been recognised and addressed.
Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, said: Our campaign has always been about accountability and fairness. We are grateful to the Secretary of State for taking action.
Julian Hendy, from Hundred Families, said: This is a very welcome move and something we’ve been campaigning on for nearly a decade. Paying thousands of pounds of state benefits to mentally disordered offenders who have committed the most serious of crimes cannot be justified.
