A MAJOR change to Universal Credit under Labour could mean that sanction rules are softened.
When you claim Universal Credit or any benefit, you sign yourself up for commitments that you have to meet to get the financial support.
This may be from showing you’re actively looking for a job to being on time for appointments.
But if you fail to do what you promised in that agreement, you could see the benefit money taken away from you.
Exactly how much you’ll have taken off your claim depends on what you’ve done – or not done.
Any penalties you might face will only apply to the standard element of your claim – so extra cash you get through the housing or childcare elements will still be paid.
Under current sanction rules, claimants who do not show up for their job centre meetings can have their payments stopped for between one week to up to a year.
However, government officials are now considering “non-financial” sanctions for no shows, according to a report in The Telegraph.
It follows concerns from MPs that current penalties are “not always applied appropriately, fairly and proportionately”.
Recent DWP figures show that 561,630 claimants were penalised for not attending mandatory interviews with work coaches at Jobcentres.
The Work and Pensions Committee of MPs is now arguing the penalties may reduce benefit claimants’ likelihood of finding a job.
The outlet said new cost-free sanctions could include forcing tardy claimants to attend more meetings to help encourage them to return to work.
MPs have also called for more warnings before benefit cuts are imposed.
And they have also asked for a “trauma-informed” sanctions process.
This could include benefit officers required to take claimants’ personal circumstances into account, such as if they faced abuse.
A DWP spokesperson told The Sun: “We’re determined to get more people into good, secure jobs.
“That’s why we are stepping up our plan to Get Britain Working with the most ambitious employment reforms in a generation, as well as modernising jobcentres and providing tailored support through the Connect to Work programme.
“As we shift our focus from welfare to work, skills, and opportunities, it is right that there are obligations to engage with employment support, look for work and to take jobs when they are offered.”
What causes sanctions?
Here are five mistakes that could see your payments stopped:
Not applying or looking for work
Part of the Claimant Commitment includes spending 35 hours a week looking for work, which you will need to keep a record of to show your work coach.
But if you don’t, you may have your benefits cut.
The same goes if you’re not putting the hours in to look.
If your Jobcentre work coach doesn’t feel you’re doing enough to get back into work, you can be sanctioned.
Refusing a job offer
If you’ve been offered a job, you’re expected to take it – so long as it’s within reason.
This is because the benefits system supports you while you’re out of work but with the goal of helping you find a job again.
Refusing a job offer just because you don’t want it will see you sanctioned at the highest level.
Quitting your job without good reason
Quitting your job without a good reason could see you sanctioned too.
There’s no set definition of what a good reason is, but it might include unaffordable childcare costs.
You might have your benefit payments reduced.
Being late to appointments and interviews
Often, people on Universal Credit are required to attend interviews and appointments with the Jobcentre in order to update them on their search for work, for example.
These are held face to face or can be over the phone or via video chat.
If you’re late for these appointments and interviews, you could see your payments cut.
If you have a good reason why you can’t attend a meeting, then you should let the Jobcentre know immediately.
But if you fail to turn up to a meeting you’ll likely be sanctioned until you visit your next review.
If you’ve repeatedly missed meetings, the sanctions may be stricter and last longer.
Not updating your information
The amount of Universal Credit you are entitled to depends on many factors surrounding your individual circumstances.
That might be how many hours you work or how many children you have.
But failing to report a change in circumstances, like moving house or getting a new job, could see you sanctioned.
In the worst cases, you may be committing benefit fraud and could even face legal action.
It comes as the DWP is attempting to reform the benefit system to help shave £5billion a year off the nation’s welfare budget and help more people to return to work.
Other reforms could include tightening up rules around who can claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with a consultation currently underway.
Can I appeal a sanction?
If you think you’ve been sanctioned unfairly, you can contact the DWP and ask for a “mandatory reconsideration”.
You have one month from when you were notified about the sanction to do so.
If you’ve been sanctioned unfairly, the first thing you must do is check the level of sanction and for how long your money has been reduced.
You’ll then need to contact the DWP for a mandatory reconsideration if you think they’ve made the wrong decision.
Citizens Advice says you should have been told:
- Why you’ve received a sanction
- The level of sanction you’ve been given
- How long the sanction will last
- How much money will be taken away from your Universal Credit payment
- The date the sanction decision was made
It is still worth applying for a mandatory reconsideration if you have missed the one-month deadline for a good reason, such as being in hospital.
You can apply for a mandatory reconsideration in several ways – just remember to include as much supporting evidence as possible.
If you have an online Universal Credit account, you can write a message to the DWP explaining why you disagree with the decision.
You can also print off and fill out the CRMR1 mandatory reconsideration request form on gov.uk, but remember to allow time for your letter to get to the DWP before your deadline window.
You can also call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Letters should be sent to DWP Complaints, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 2GY.
