Benefit sanctions

The length of time your benefit will be sanctioned depends on which benefit has been sanctioned and the reason for the sanction.

The length of the sanction will also vary depending on whether or not it is the first time you have been sanctioned.

Universal Credit (UC)

UC sanctions can be either high, medium or low.

High-level sanctions

If you fail to apply for a job or fail to accept a job that is offered to you or if you leave your job without a good reason you may get a high-level sanction.

High-level sanctions usually last for 91 days but if you have had a high-level sanction within the last year it can last 182 days.

Medium level sanctions

If you do not do enough to look for work or are not available for work then may get a medium-level sanction.

Medium level sanctions usually last for 28 days but if you have had another medium level sanction in within the last year it can last for 91 days. 

Low-level sanctions

Other failures to do what you have agreed to do in your claimant commitment will usually result in a low-level sanction.

Examples of things that would lead to a low-level sanction are:

• not signing on when you are supposed to
• not providing evidence that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has asked for
• not going on a course that has been recommended as part of your work preparation

A low-level sanction is made up of a set fixed period of time (which is normally seven days) in addition to the time it takes you to do whatever you have failed to do. For example, if you were supposed to go on a course that has been recommended as part of your work preparation but have failed to do so the sanction will continue to apply until you do attend and once you have attended a further seven-day sanction will apply.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

An ESA sanction will last until you do whatever you failed to do which resulted in your sanction in the first place. For example, until you comply with the work-related activity such as attending a course you have been asked to.

You are also given a further fixed-period sanction as follows:

• one week, if it is the first time you have been sanctioned; or
• two weeks, if you have been sanctioned in the last year or
• four weeks, if you have been sanctioned more than once in the last year.

Your sanction will also end immediately if you are moved into the support group or if you stop being entitled to ESA.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

There are three levels of sanctions which last for set periods of time depending on what you have failed to do which has led to the sanction being applied.

Lower level

A low level of sanction applies if you are asked to do something that will improve your chances of finding or preparing for work and you don't do it. This includes things like failing to attend or giving up a place on a training scheme or failing to attend an interview at Jobcentre Plus. A low-level sanction will last for four weeks for the first failure and13 weeks for any further failures within a year of a previous sanction

Intermediate level

An intermediate level of sanction may apply if you reclaim JSA after your previous JSA award has been disallowed due to you failing to be available for work or failing to actively seek work. An intermediate level sanction will last for four weeks for a first failure and 13 weeks for any further failures within a year of a previous sanction.

High level

A high-level sanction may apply if you:

• leave a job voluntarily
• lose a job through misconduct
• fail to take up a job or mandatory work activity without a good reason.

High-level sanctions last for 13 weeks for a first failure and this increase to 26 weeks for a second failure within a year of a previous sanction.

Income Support

Income support sanctions last until you do whatever it was that you were sanctioned for failing to do, for example attending a work-focused interview.