Serious Offenders in Secure Hospitals to Lose Universal Credit
Regulations laid today will stop universal credit payments of up to £800 a month to offenders detained in psychiatric hospitals, where the health service already funds their bed and board. About 2,500 people are affected now and roughly 200 a year in future. The government expects to save tens of millions of pounds a year.
The measure covers hospital orders made under the Mental Health Act in England and Wales and the equivalent Scottish provision, for offences including manslaughter, attempted murder, wounding with intent, rape and rape of a child under thirteen. Murder is not on the list, for the technical reason that a hospital order is not available for it. Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, framed it as a promise kept: “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.” The families who pressed for it were measured rather than triumphant. Emma Webber, whose son Barnaby was killed in Nottingham in 2023, called it “long overdue, and simply the right thing to do”, adding that “a hospital bed does not erase the egregious crimes committed”. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, whose daughter Grace was killed in the same attack, said that “on the principle of fairness alone, we do not see why taxpayers should fund benefits while they are incarcerated”. The full financial effect is due with the Budget.