asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether persons serving custodial sentences are entitled to claim (a) working tax credits, or (b) any other tax credits; and, if so, how much has been paid in each of the past two financial years; and to how many claimants.[HL519]

Families’ entitlement to tax credits does not stop because one of the family is in prison. The children and partner still need to be supported and, in some instances, prisoners could be named on a claim that predates their imprisonment without impacting on the value of the award.