The DWP has come under scrutiny on the rules over sanctions – prompting the department to clarify when claimants could see their payments reduced
The DWP has shed light on the rules surrounding Universal Credit sanctions. The penalty system is complex and can lead to reduced payments for claimants.
There are many rules that people need to follow to ensure they are not penalised. And there is an array of punishments that can be applied if people stray outside the DWP rules.
Depending on what happens, people can see their payments reduced by as much as 100 per cent a day – see below for full details on how penalties are calculated. The issue is in the public eye after the matter was thrust into the spotlight when a local MP raised it with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, put a question to the department on the potential impact of sanctions on certain claimants – and it has drawn attention to how the rules can affect anybody. Such penalties are enforced under particular circumstances, with detailed regulations that could lead to daily deductions from benefit payments.
The gov.uk website confirms that Universal Credit payments may be reduced if a claimant neglects to carry out agreed work-related activities without a legitimate reason. The DWP clarifies that in order to receive Universal Credit payments, claimants must agree to a document known as a ‘claimant commitment’. This includes ‘work-related requirements’ – any work-related tasks that must be fulfilled in order to continue receiving Universal Credit, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Such obligations could include attending meetings with your work coach, updating your CV, and actively looking for work. The DWP stresses “you must do everything you agree to as part of your commitment or your payment may be reduced.” The regulations have come under scrutiny following an inquiry by the Liverpool Wavertree MP. Her question to the DWP – answered this week – sought “to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of benefit sanctions on people forced into prostitution due to destitution.”
Diana Johnson, Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions), responded in an attempt to clarify the regulations. She began by setting out the principles of the benefit and the conditions surrounding its allocation. “The core objective of Universal Credit is to support people who are out of work or on a low income to enter work, earn more, or to prepare for work in the future, and claimants are generally expected to undertake certain work-related activities in return for financial support,” she said.
“Any work-related requirements are agreed in discussion with the claimant and will always be tailored in light of a claimant’s circumstances, ensuring they are realistic and achievable. Work coaches have the flexibility to personalise work-related requirements for claimants based on the impact of any health condition, caring responsibilities, or other circumstance.”
She went on to elaborate further on the subject of penalties. “A sanction is only applicable where a claimant fails to undertake their agreed activity without good reason,” she said. “Before a sanction decision is made, claimants are always asked to provide their reasoning, and several safety measures, including checking for any vulnerabilities, are in place before deciding whether a sanction is applicable.
“These include: checking to see if the claimants circumstances had changed and if the requirement remained reasonable; considering whether the claimant had undertaken alternative activity that means the requirement was met; and reviewing any known vulnerabilities and their impact on a claimant’s ability to meet their requirements.
“If a claimant is sanctioned and can demonstrate that they cannot meet their most immediate and essential needs, we also have a system of recoverable hardship payments. These needs can include heating, food, and hygiene.”
She concluded by addressing the prostitution concerns raised by the local MP. The minister said: “DWP’s commitments to the violence against women and girls (VAWG) Strategy will help align us with the wider cross government ambition to tackle sexual exploitation.
“This includes strengthening the training and guidance provided to frontline staff and Domestic Abuse SPOCs, ensuring they are better equipped to recognise and respond to all forms of VAWG, including sexual exploitation. In addition, DWP is rolling out its 5-year plan for safeguarding following the Written Statement in December 2025.”
How to steer clear of a Universal Credit sanction
According to the gov.uk website, claimants must fully understand all the requirements needed to receive Universal Credit. The DWP says they must also realise the consequences of failing to complete one or more work-related activities.
The guidance says avoiding a sanction means fulfilling all obligations outlined in your claimant commitment. This includes attending all Universal Credit appointments on time and taking part in interviews, as well as completing everything you’ve agreed to regarding job searching, such as joining training programmes and applying for suitable positions. The DWP stresses that people must keep their claimant commitment up to date with their current circumstances by reporting any changes.
If you receive a Universal Credit sanction
If you are sanctioned, your upcoming Universal Credit payment, or future payments, will be reduced. You’ll be notified via a journal message in your Universal Credit account or by letter informing you:
- the obligation you failed to meet
- the potential duration of the sanction or the actions required to terminate it
- the amount by which your payment will be cut
The DWP states you won’t face two sanctions at the same time, but sanctions can follow one another back to back. The DWP says a sanction reduces the Universal Credit standard allowance you are entitled to. Official guidance on gov.uk notes: “Your payments will be reduced by 100% of the Universal Credit standard allowance rate for each day the sanction is in place. However, if you are aged 16 or 17, or if your only responsibility is to attend appointments with us to discuss work, your payments will be reduced by 40% of the standard allowance rate for each day the sanction is in place.”
What are the daily reduction rates when sanctions are applied?
For single claimants aged 25 or over, the 100% daily reduction rate is £13.90, while the 40% daily reduction rate is £5.50. Single claimants under 25 face a 100% daily reduction rate of £11.10, with the 40% daily reduction rate coming in at £4.40.
For joint claimants where both are under 25 (per sanctioned claimant), the 100% daily reduction rate is £8.60, with the 40% daily reduction rate at £3.40. Where one or both joint claimants are aged 25 or over (per sanctioned claimant), the 100% daily reduction rate is £10.90, while the 40% daily reduction rate stands at £4.30.
The website states that where payments have already been reduced due to earnings or other income, and insufficient Universal Credit remains to deduct the full sanction amount, payments will drop to zero and the sanction is deemed fully applied. If you receive extra payments on top of your standard allowance, such as contributions for children or housing costs, these will continue to be paid, according to the DWP. However, bear in mind that you could lose your eligibility for other benefits, including help with NHS charges, if you are sanctioned.
Four Universal Credit sanction levels
There are 4 sanction levels based on your work-related activity (or ‘conditionality’) category. These categories are lowest, low, medium and high. The DWP says the majority of Universal Credit sanctions fall into the low level category. These relate to the requirements you must meet to keep receiving your Universal Credit.
A low level sanction typically runs from the date you failed to complete the required activity for which you were sanctioned, through until the day before you carry out that activity, plus an additional fixed period of days. If you haven’t been sanctioned within the previous 365 days, this fixed additional period is normally 7 days.
A high level sanction applies to specific failures connected with paid employment. For instance, you might receive a high level sanction if you:
- voluntarily leave employment or lose earnings while claiming Universal Credit or immediately prior to making a claim, without good reason
- are required to seek employment, but fail to apply for a specific job when instructed to do so without good reason
- leave employment or lose earnings due to misconduct, while claiming Universal Credit or immediately prior to making a claim
- are required to be available for employment, but decline a job offer without good reason
The DWP says that in these circumstances, you will face a 91-day (roughly three months) sanction for your first high-level sanction within any 365-day period. If you have previously received a high-level sanction within the past year, but not within the last fortnight, the sanction can be extended up to a maximum of 182 days (around six months).
For further information on how to claim Universal Credit, visit the gov.uk website.
