602,000 benefit claimants sanctioned by DWP

The government reduced or suspended benefit payments to 602,000 people in the year to October 2024.

People claiming means-tested benefits such as universal credit can lose them or have them reduced if they fail to meet certain conditions for receiving them.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), more than half a million of these people were sanctioned for not attending or taking part in a mandatory interview

In fact, this group accounted for 91.7% of all adverse sanction decisions during this period.

Other common reasons for sanction included:

• choosing not to work - 24,870
• not attending employment programmes - 15,340
• not giving a valid reason for leaving their job - 8,400

Figures also showed that the sanction rate reached its highest level on record in October 2024, as 61,527 claimants saw their benefits reduced or suspended.

What can you do if you’re sanctioned?

If your benefits are reduced or suspended by the DWP, there are several options open to you.

Challenge the sanction 

If you believe the sanction in unfair or incorrect, you can write to the DWP explaining your position.

Include any supporting evidence, such as job applications and medical letters, alongside your letter, and make sure you reply within a month of being notified of the sanction.

Apply for hardship payments

If the sanction leaves you struggling to cover essential expenses such as food, bills and rent, you might qualify for a hardship payment.

You’ll need to contact your local Jobcentre to apply if you’re on universal credit, jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance.

Hardship payments are usually reduced amounts of the original benefit and may need to be repaid.

Find out what support is available

Enter your details in the Turn2us grant checker and see if there is any help you can apply for that you wouldn’t have to pay back.

We can also help you find out what benefits you’re entitled to, set a budget you can stick to and find the right debt solutions.