Convicted criminals sentenced to hospital orders will finally have their benefits ended.
After an outcry following the Nottingham triple killing, the government will close a loophole that has seen some of the UK’s worst criminals profit from serving time.
Until now, offenders in hospitals could be paid more than £800 a month in Universal Credit – totting up to thousands of pounds in taxpayer cash over the course of their sentences.
Prisoners in the rest of the prison system are banned from claiming state benefits.
But hospitalised criminals, often held for the most serious crimes, remain eligible for welfare payments.
Valdo Calocane, who murdered two students and a caretaker in Nottingham in 2023, is able to receive Universal Credit payments of up to £360 a month in his high-security Merseyside hospital.
Such benefits are designed to give criminals funds for clothes, food, books and electronic equipment.
But now that will be cut off – as they are already given bed, board and treatment at the state’s expense.
School caretaker Ian Coates, and students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar (pictured left-right) were killed by Valdo Calocane in 2023
Calocane was able to receive Universal Credit payments of up to £360 a month in his high-security Merseyside hospital
Prisoners in the rest of the prison system are banned from claiming state benefits. But hospitalised criminals, often held for the most serious crimes, remain eligible for welfare payments
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, whose department has brought forward the plans, said he is ‘acting to right the wrongs within our benefits system, so it supports people who genuinely need it, while delivering fairness to the taxpayer’.
He said: ‘I don’t think there’s a single household in Britain who believes it’s right that convicted criminals receive thousands of pounds a year in benefits.
‘It’s unfair to victims’ families and to taxpayers whose hard-earned cash ends up in the pockets of offenders, and contrary to our values – we don’t reward acts of violence.’
Families of victims have long campaigned for Government to close this loophole.
The parents of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, killed by Calocane, said they were ‘delighted’ by the announcement.
‘Pat’s actions benefit our country and our communities. As a result, our country now leads many countries across Europe on this issue.’
‘We also appreciate the help Pat McFadden MP has given our cause and our campaign. Whilst we have lost our brave and beautiful daughter Grace, we now know that in her name good is being done for our country.’
Linda and Leon Westcarr, the mother and uncle of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, murdered in 2024 by her partner, said they ‘welcome this long-overdue reform to the benefits system, which corrects a clear injustice that has caused real harm for too long’.
Sir Keir Starmer said that it ‘cannot be right’ that offenders convicted of the most serious crimes continue to receive benefits they don’t need at the expense of the taxpayer.
He said: ‘These proposals will restore basic fairness and common sense to our social security system.
‘I’m determined to do whatever it takes to stand up for victims, protect taxpayers, and ensure support goes to those who genuinely need it.’
The Government will now receive expert advice on removing benefits from those convicted of crimes including manslaughter, rape and other serious offences held in a hospital setting.
Benefits would not be removed from sectioned individuals who have not committed an offence.
