Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance: Sanctions
Background
A new three tier sanctions regime was introduced and came into force in October 2012 for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and December 2012 for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which seeks to broadly align the JSA & ESA sanctions regimes with the model to be introduced under Universal Credit.
For more details see:
JSA: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/jsa-sanction-changes/
ESA: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/esa-sanction-changes/
Details of the legislation are available at:-
JSA: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2568/introduction/made
ESA: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2756/introduction/made
Jobseeker's Allowance Sanctions
- The October 2012 regime features three categories of sanctions to be applied in different situations - "Higher", "Intermediate" & "Lower". It also features an escalating sanction regime - a 1st, 2nd or 3rd offence for each of the categories.
- The revised sanctions regime also introduced changes to the start date of a sanction. Sanctions have previously been applied from the start of the next benefit week after the Decision Maker (DM) made their determination. However, to ensure that claimants see the consequences of their actions/inactions sooner, the revised sanctions legislation will enable DM's to impose sanctions closer to the date of failure. Specifically, the sanction period will begin:
- On the first day of the benefit week in which the failure occurred if the claimant has not been paid JSA for that week; or
- On the first day of the benefit week following the date to which the claimant was last paid JSA.
Last month, DWP announced that:
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On 15 May 2013, the JSA sanctions series will continue for reference dates up until the end of January 2013. These statistics will reflect the new JSA sanctions regime which took effect from 22 October 2012. Initially, statistics will be released via spreadsheets linked from this Statistical Summary. The statistics will include a breakdown by Jobcentre Plus office.
In the last few weeks, DWP have been preparing the final statistics to the end of January and extending some of the tables to show new measures. These activities have exposed some significant doubts around the quality of the new regime statistics. Consequently, to avoid a potentially misleading statistical release, JSA sanction statistics have not been released as previously planned.
DWP will perform further quality assurance activities on this new series and will publish as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is not possible to commit to a definite date at the moment, but a proposed publication date will be announced in advance here and via http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=news.
Prior to October 2012, lower level failures would attract a fixed length sanction of 1, 2, 4,or 26 weeks; intermediate level failures attracted a disallowance for the period they were not available/actively seeking work, but no sanction; whilst higher level failures were given a variable length sanction of between 1 to 26 weeks.
Earlier published information for JSA Sanctions is available here
An ad hoc release of the number of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) sanctions and disallowances, where a decision has been made, in each month from 1 April 2000 to 21 October 2012 (the last date of the old regulations) by Jobcentre Plus Office and decision is now available at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=adhoc_analysis.
The regime to be followed will be determined by when the sanctionable failure took place. (i.e. all failures after 22 October 2012 would be processed under October 2012 rules).
Further information on Jobseeker's Allowance claimants is available here
Further background and commentary on JSA sanctions can be found at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=statistical_summaries, specifically in the latest quarterly Summary document.
Comments on these statistics should be directed at the "Welfare and Benefit Statistics" community at: http://www.statsusernet.org.uk; or via email to stats-consultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Employment and Support Allowance Sanctions
- Under the pre-December 2012 regime, ESA claimants in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) who fail to meet requirements are subject to an open ended sanction which is lifted when they re-comply. The sanction amount is 50% of the work related activity component which rises to 100% of the component after four weeks.
- The post-December 2012 scheme changes the approach as follows:
- The sanction has two parts: an open ended period, which will be lifted when the claimant re-engages with requirements, followed by a short fixed period;
- The sanctionable amount will increase to 100% of the prescribed amount for a single claimant; and
- A hardship regime for ESA claimants will be introduced
As a result of the changes to the regime, the Department for Work and Pensions has reviewed its methodology for publishing ESA sanctions official statistics with a view to ensuring the publication remains relevant whilst also seeking to maintain a consistent time series.
In comparing methodologies, an error was discovered in the pre-December 2012 official statistics measure leading to double counting of some sanctions. For this reason, statisticians at the DWP have decided to suspend publication of ESA sanctions statistics based on the current method.
The DWP are aiming to publish the first set of statistics for the new ESA sanctions regime by August 2013 alongside a revised historical series and a working paper explaining the differences between the methodologies. These statistics have been delayed from a May release to allow the new regime to bed-in and to allow sufficient quality assurance of the new methodology.
To access the latest release in full click ESA Sanctions: Official Statistics - August 2012 
Earlier published information for ESA Sanctions is available here
Further information on Employment and Support Allowance is available here
Comments on these statistics should be directed at the "Welfare and Benefit Statistics" community at: http://www.statsusernet.org.uk; or via email to stats-consultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Coverage: Great Britain
(Similar statistics relating to Northern Ireland are not currently published)
Next release date for Jobseeker's Allowance sanctions: 17 August 2013
Next release date for Employment and Support Allowance sanctions: by August 2013
