The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has halted a staggering 622,000 payments, affecting a significant number of Universal Credit recipients over the past 17 months.
Data reveals that between February 2024 and July 2025, 622,000 people were sanctioned. Over 561,630 claimants faced penalties for failing to attend compulsory interviews with work coaches at Jobcentres.
A further 18,900 saw their payments reduced due to non-attendance at employment programmes. Labour Party and DWP figures indicate that 9,380 were sanctioned for not providing a valid reason for leaving a job, with the current sanction rate standing at five per cent for claimants.
To receive Universal Credit payments, one must agree to a ‘claimant commitment’. This includes ‘work-related requirements’ – any work-related activities that must be completed to receive Universal Credit.
What you are required to do will depend on your personal circumstances. It could include appointments with your work coach and updating your CV or searching for jobs, reports Birmingham Live.
You must fulfil all the obligations agreed upon in your commitment or face a reduction in your payment. This is referred to as a sanction.
It’s crucial to understand all the tasks you must complete to receive Universal Credit and what will happen if you fail to complete one or more of your work-related activities to avoid a sanction.
To avoid a sanction, you must fulfil all the obligations outlined in your claimant commitment, such as punctually attending all Universal Credit appointments and participating in interviews.
The DWP also states that you should be actively pursuing all agreed-upon actions to find employment, including participating in training courses and applying for suitable jobs.
If you’re unable to meet the requirements of your claimant commitment, it’s crucial to contact the DWP immediately by adding a note to your journal in your Universal Credit account, or using the contact details provided by your work coach.
Should you receive a sanction, your subsequent Universal Credit payment, or series of payments, will be reduced. You’ll be notified via a journal message in your Universal Credit account or a letter.
