Over half a million individuals claiming benefits have had their payments halted last year as the Government carries out a violent clampdown on sanctions.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) indicate that 602,000 claimants have received sanctions across the period between November 2023 and October 2024.
Additionally, the sanction rate rose to its highest-ever level last October as 61,527 benefit claimants had their payments cut or axed altogether.
Meanwhile, the sanction rate for Universal Credit dropped to 5.6 per cent in October 2024 - a 1.6 per cent decrease in November the year before.
Over half a million individuals claiming benefits have had their payments halted last year as the Government carries out a violent clampdown on sanctions
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Nevertheless, over 500,000 sanctioned individuals had their payments slashed or paused since they did not attend an obligatory interview with a Jobcentre work coach.
More than 24,870 received penalties for opting not to work, while some 15,340 people had their payments amended because did not attend employment programmes.
And around 8,400 were penalised for not disclosing a valid reason for leaving their job.
When signing up to receive benefits from the Government, recipients must meet certain requirements, such as evidence of actively searching for employment, as well as attending a set number of appointments.
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The varying types of penalty depending on which requirements claimants meet - or fail to meet.
Benefit payments might be stopped if individuals fail to effectively search or apply for work, refuse a potential job offer or resign without a valid reason for doing so.
While refusing a job offer would see claimants sanctioned at the highest level, quitting a job without a "good" reason would leave individuals penalised as well.
There is currently no clear definition of what is meant by a "good" reason, however.
Equally, individuals on Universal Credit can see their payments cut just for being late to appointments and interviews at Jobcentres across the nation (Stock)
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Equally, individuals on Universal Credit can see their payments cut just for being late to appointments and interviews at Jobcentres across the nation.
These meetings might include discussions on how to progress the individual's job search and employability which can be held over the phone or in person.
Another reason that could cause claimants grief is failing to update personal information - such as the number of hours that a claimant works, or how many children they look after.
Those who believe that they have been wrongly sanctioned can contact the DWP and request a "mandatory reconsideration" for one month after the penalty notification.
