How much can they actually spend each week?
You can send money in, but there is a weekly cap on what they can spend from it. The cap depends on their behaviour level and whether they are convicted. Nobody explains this, so families send money that just sits there.
These rules cover England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland? Start here.
How prison money actually works
Money you send lands in their Their personal account inside. Money sent by family sits here. They can only move a capped weekly amount from it to spend in the canteen. . Each week they can move a capped amount of it to spend in the The weekly shop: phone credit, toiletries, snacks, vapes, stamps, ordered once a week from a list. . Prison wages are spendable on top of the cap. So the practical rule is: steady small amounts beat big lumps. A tenner a week on Standard gets used. A hundred pounds at once mostly sits locked in the account.
The caps are also why behaviour levels matter to families, not just to the prison. Moving from Standard to Enhanced is the difference between £19.80 and £33 a week, plus more visits. Ask them where they are on it.
Common questions
How much money can a prisoner spend each week?
It depends on their behaviour level and whether they are convicted. A convicted person on Standard can typically spend £19.80 a week of the money sent in, on Enhanced £33, and on Basic just £5.50. On remand the caps are much higher: around £47.50 on Standard. Their prison wages are spendable on top. Some prisons vary slightly, so treat these as the usual figures.
What happens if I send more than they can spend?
Nothing bad, but nothing useful either. The money sits in their private cash account and they cannot touch the extra until later. Steady smaller amounts every week or two work better than a big lump.
What do they spend money on?
The canteen (the weekly shop): phone credit, toiletries, snacks, coffee, vapes, stamps. Phone credit is usually the first thing to run out, which is why calls stop when money is low.
How do I send money in?
The free GOV.UK service "Send money to someone in prison", with a debit card. You need their prisoner number and date of birth. It usually lands within a few days.
What are prison wages?
Pay for prison jobs like cleaning, kitchens or workshops. Often £10 to £15 a week, sometimes less. Wages can be spent on top of the private cash cap, but nobody lives well on prison wages alone.