Reviewed on: April 05,2026
General Prison Questions-Terminology

How holiday phone minutes are added

If my husband's phone time cycle starts on the 28th of each month how does the November/December 400 minutes work? Does he already have the 400 minutes or will they add a hundred minutes November and December 1st?

In the federal system, holiday phone minutes are handled as a temporary increase to the monthly allowance, not as separate deposits on specific dates.
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Answered by a former federal inmate · 14+ years advising families
✓ Verified answer October 30,2013 · General Prison Questions-Terminology
1

In the federal system, holiday phone minutes are handled as a temporary increase to the monthly allowance, not as separate deposits on specific dates.

If your husband’s cycle resets on the 28th of each month, here is how it works:

  • His normal allotment is 300 minutes per cycle
  • During the November and December holiday period, that allotment increases to 400 minutes total per cycle
  • The extra 100 minutes are included automatically in each monthly cycle that falls within that timeframe

So he does not get:

  • 100 minutes added on November 1 and December 1

Instead, he gets:

  • 400 minutes total for each billing cycle that occurs during the holiday period

That means if his cycle runs from the 28th to the 27th, any cycle that falls within November and December should reflect the increased 400-minute limit.

It is built into the system for that period, not added separately.

Accepted Answer Date Created: October 30,2013
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About this answer: This response was prepared by InmateAid’s editorial team in consultation with former inmates who have direct experience with the federal correctional system. InmateAid has served families of the incarcerated since 2012. This is general information only — not legal advice. Last reviewed April 2026.