Fury as prisoners getting paid hundreds of pounds in Universal Credit while in jail

CRIMINALS are getting hundreds of pounds of taxpayers’ cash — while they are in jail.

Bungling benefits chiefs are paying lags the Universal Credit handouts even though they cannot work or attend appointments.

The payments, made in error, come as Britain is in the midst of an unprecedented squeeze on the public purse.

One prisoner said he was paid £1,470 in benefits including a “hardship fund” while serving a 12-week sentence for drink driving at London’s Belmarsh.

The lag, who was released last week after six weeks, claims “lots of prisoners” at the tough jail are receiving their benefits.

He said: “It’s common in jail. Three people on my wing — hardened criminals — were getting benefits. One got his for ten months.”

After being released, he went to a London job centre and said, “they had no idea I had been in prison”.

The Department for Work and Pensions checks information sent to them from the prison service against a database to see who is getting benefits.

Prisoners are not entitled to Universal Credit, which has replaced Jobseekers and Income Support.

The DWP said: “In rare cases where a change of circumstances is not immediately processed, records can be updated at a later date and overpayments recovered.”