ESA sanctions and NI credits-only claimants

Can sanctions which might be applied to an ESA award be applied to benefits paid to the partner of a claimant recieving only NI credits by virtue if LCW or LCWRA?

My client has recently switched to irESA after the 52 week time-limiting of his cESA award. He gets HRCC DLA and his partner gets CA for looking after him. They would be better off if she claimed IS instead of him caliming irESA but would immunity from sanctions be a further advantage of such a switch?