Prisoners participating in work, education or rehabilitation are paid a tax-free activity allowance. The activity allowance is 0.70 or 0.90 euro per hour. In open prisons and for good performance in closed prisons, the activity allowance can be 1.20 euro per hour.

In open prison, prisoners participating in vocational work receive taxable wages, which varies between 3.70 and 4.50 euro per hour. If the employer is other than the Criminal Sanctions Agency (e.g. in former open work colonies), the wage is from 6 to 7.30 euro per hour. Income taxes and compensation to the prison for food and keep costs as well as possible debt distraint and confirmed maintenance allowance are paid from the wages.

Prisoners receive an expense allowance of 0.30 euro for those regular working and activity hours for which they do not receive an activity allowance or wages. Prisoners who do not participate in activities for reasons of their own receive an expense allowance of 0.15 euro.

An activity or expense allowance can be left unpaid in full or in part if the prisoner receives support for said activity from other authorities (e.g. study grant).

Use of money

In closed prisons, prisoners are not allowed to possess money.The monetary assets and the activity and expense allowance of a prisoner are deposited in the prisoner’s account maintained by the prison administration. The money on the account can be used, for instance in the prison canteen. In closed prisons, prisoners are allowed to use the earned activity allowance and 85 euro of their own money per month. If somebody wants to give a prisoner some spending money, he or she has to deposit it in the prison account from where the money is transferred to the prisoner’s personal account (cf. contributions to prisoners).

In open prisons, prisoners are allowed to possess money. The open prison wages are paid in cash and can be used for purchases or deposited in a bank account