Know Your Rights: How to send money to someone in prison

Looking to send money to someone in prison? Here’s how! Words: WIP’s Narinder Panesar gives the low-down on the do’s and don’ts of sending money to loved ones in prison.

Since the coronavirus pandemic and mounting health and safety concerns, sending money to someone in prison has changed significantly. As of 2 November 2020, the main way to send money to an individual in prison is through the gov. uk website. You can use this service to make payments via Mastercard, Visa or Maestro debit cards. This is a free and secure service available across all prisons in England and Wales (with the exception of HMP Thameside). Here’s everything you need to know.

What do you need to send money to someone in prison?

You will need the individual’s full name, date of birth and prisoner number. You will also need a valid debit card and an online banking account.

Can you send money to someone in prison without using the Internet?

You may be allowed to send money by post if you are unable to access a computer, a smart phone or the Internet. You may also be able to apply for an exemption if you do not have a debit card. See the gov.uk website for more details.

How do you know if the individual has received the payment?

The best way to assure that someone has received the payment is to ask them directly when you speak with them. Once you have made the payment by debit card, you will receive a confirmation email. Please do not delete this email, since you may require proof of the payment if there is an issue or delay with processing the payment.

Is it free?

This new service provided by gov.uk allows you to send money to someone in prison in the UK for free.

How long does it take for money to reach someone in prison?

Using the gov.uk platform, it usually takes less than three working days for a payment to arrive in the specified account. However, sometimes a payment can take up to five days to process.

‘There is no limit on how much money you can transfer to an individual in a UK prison; however, the individual is limited in how much money they are allowed to spend.’

Why has my payment been refunded?

If you make a mistake with the individual’s name, date of birth or their prison number, the payment will be automatically refunded.

How much money can you send to someone in prison?

There is no limit on how much money you can transfer to an individual in a UK prison; however, the individual is limited in how much money they are allowed to spend. Across most prisons, individuals are entitled to spend around £20 on a weekly basis. They are also allowed to transfer a small amount from their private cash account to their spending account each week. The amount they are allowed to transfer depends on their Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP), as well as their conviction status. In prison, you can also earn money by working or attending education and training programmes.

How can someone in prison spend their money?

Individuals can order supplies on a weekly basis from the ‘canteen’ (the prison shop). This includes phone credit, toiletries, vapes, snacks and more, all of which are available to purchase via a canteen sheet that will specify the total available funds and spends available to the individual in question.

For more information on how to send money to someone in prison, please visit https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money