The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

11.1.12.90 Prison release, psychiatric confinement & income management

Prison release & psychiatric confinement

If a person is imprisoned their payments are suspended if the period of imprisonment is 13 weeks or less, or cancelled if the period of imprisonment is more than 13 weeks. Once the person is imprisoned, they do not receive any further income support payments and no further funds are credited to their income management account.

If the person's payments are suspended and their income management account has a credit balance, these funds will be available to them for their priority needs. However, it is highly likely that imprisonment will have changed the person's priority needs and regular deductions from the income management account should stop until contact is made and advice about current priority needs has been received from the person.

If the person's income managed payment has been cancelled, the person will cease to be subject to income management. Any remaining funds in the person's income management account may be disbursed (11.1.11).

When the person leaves prison or psychiatric confinement they may be entitled to CrP. CrP is not subject to income management (11.1.1.60), unless the person is under the age of 25 and is in a designated area with the vulnerable measure. When a person has received a CrP following release from prison or psychiatric confinement they will be placed on income management for a 12 month period.

If a person claims CrP on release from prison or psychiatric confinement, and the person has ceased to be subject to income management, any residual amount in their income managed account could be considered a liquid asset (1.1.L.50).

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