Proportion of universal credit claimants subject to conditionality who had a sanction deduction applied to their benefit during May 2020 dropped to 0.73 per cent

New DWP statistics highlight that the 1.32 per cent decrease follows the legislative changes introduced in response to the coronavirus outbreak

The proportion of universal credit claimants subject to conditionality who had a sanction deduction applied to their benefit during May 2020 dropped to 0.73 per cent, according to new DWP statistics.

In Benefit sanctions statistics to April 2020, published today, the DWP highlights that, prior to legislative changes introduced on 30 March 2020 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - which suspended work search requirements for a period of three months - 36,277 universal credit claimants, or 2.12 per cent of those subject to conditionality, had a deduction taken from their universal credit award as a result of a sanction.

However, in May 2020, this proportion dropped to 0.73 per cent (25,460 claimants), a reduction of - 

• 1.32 per cent from February 2020; and
• 1.64 per cent over the previous 12 months.

Today's figures also confirm that the percentage of jobseeker's allowance claimants and employment and support allowance claimants (in the work-related activity group) who had a sanction deduction applied in December 2019 was 0.02 per cent and 0.03 per cent respectively.

Benefit sanctions statistics to April 2020 is available from gov.uk

NB - in April 2020, Work and Pensions Minister Mims Davies confirmed that the Department had no plans to remove sanctions or deductions incurred before the COVID-19 outbreak.