The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to Universal Credit claimants after 138,000 had their benefits cut.
The benefits department has released the latest figures on Universal Credit sanctions. These are penalties given to people who fail to meet the conditions of their claim. If you get a sanction, you will see your benefit reduced or even cut entirely for several months depending on the severity of your rule break.
The recent figures reveal that 138,220 sanctions were dished out between June and August this year across England, Scotland and Wales. Of this, 131,720 benefit penalties were given for failure to attend or participate in a mandatory interview with a work coach, 2,590 for not being available for work, 2,430 for not going on an employment programme, and 1,240 for leaving a previous job without a good reason.
Over the year, from August 2022 to July 2023, the DWP imposed 522,690 sanctions on Universal Credit claimants and the vast majority of those - around 504,320 were down to claimants not showing up at the Jobcentre for an appointment with their work coach.
When you sign up to claim Universal Credit, you have to sign an agreement called a "Claimant Commitment". This sets out what you need to do to get your payments each month and includes things such as applying for jobs, updating your CV, and attending JobCentre interviews.
DWP guidance posted alongside the latest figures warned: "Claimants are required to meet agreed conditions to be eligible for Universal Credit. If a claimant does not meet one or more conditions of their benefit claim without good reason, their benefit could be stopped or reduced."
There are different levels of sanctions and this determines how long your penalty lasts. The four sanction levels are: Lowest, Low, Medium and Higher. The lowest level lasts for seven days whilst the highest can reach 182 if you're a repeat offender. The amount of Universal Credit you will lose for your sanction will depend on how you get each month, although it can be cut by 100% in some instances.
The DWP will tell you what time of sanction, why you have received it, how long it will last and how much your Universal Credit will be cut. You can appeal your sanction if you believe it is not correct.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Spring Budget earlier this year that the sanctions would be applied “more rigorously” to those who fail to meet strict work-search requirements. This was then reiterated in a speech delivered at the Conservative Party conference in September. Jeremy Hunt unveiled plans for tougher benefit restrictions on those who “won’t even look for work”. He also confirmed that he and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride will “look again at the benefits sanctions regime“. The tougher measures are expected to be announced in next week's Autumn Statement.
One of the tougher measures being reportedly considered by the Government is cutting free NHS prescriptions and dental care for sanctioned Universal Credit claimants. Thr DWP declined to comment on these reports. However, the Government has not confirmed any of its plans as of writing.