The benefit for a released prisoner who was in prison or in detention for at least six months and who has no income is paid for two months at most. The payment is for each month separately, from the day that the claim for income support benefit is submitted and subject to the other conditions of entitlement..
If you still haven’t begun working, or are working for low wage job you may be entitled to the benefit even after two months. In such cases, please contact the local Employment Service Bureau; in order to be entitled to the income support benefit, you must be willing to accept any job offered to you that is suitable to your health and physical condition.
Conditions of entitlement to benefit
-
You were in prison or in detention for at least 6 full and consecutive months.
-
You submitted a claim for income support benefit in the month of your release or in the following month.
-
You have no income, or your income is lower than the amount of the income support benefit.
Please note,
-
If you are married, your wife must also meet the conditions of entitlement under the Income Support Law. She must pass an income test, and must be entitled due to being a mother to a child up to the age of two, a low-wage earner, a jobseeker at the Employment Service Bureau or not being capable of working.
-
If you or your wife own or use a car, you will only be entitled to the benefit only if you work at low-wage job and meet additional conditions that are stipulated by law.
-
If your wife received an income support benefit during the time of your imprisonment, you may receive the benefit for a couple.
How to submit request for benefit
In order to receive the income support benefit for a prisoner, you must submit a claim form for income support benefit to the local NII branch nearest to your place of residence, during the month of your release or during the following month. You will not be entitled to the benefit as a released prisoner if you submit the claim after this date. Please attach the required documents – including the authorization of your imprisonment – indicated on the form.
We will examine the possibility of an immediate payment of part of the benefit once the claim form, together with the attached documents, is received at the local NII branch.
Request for disability pension
If you received a permanent disability pension before being imprisoned, you can once again submit a claim for disability pension after your release from prison.
Detailed information on the conditions of entitlement to income support benefit and on the amounts of the benefit may be found in the Income Support Chapter of the site (this chapter).