Sanction
A reduction in benefit (typically for UC) imposed when a claimant fails to meet their work-related requirements without good reason. May last from 7 days to up to 1,095 days for repeated higher-level failures.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
To get Universal Credit, a claimant must accept a 'claimant commitment' — an agreement recording what they will do to prepare for, and look for, work, or to increase their earnings if already working. If a claimant does not do everything they have agreed to in their commitment without a good reason, their payment can be reduced or stopped; this reduction is called a sanction.
A sanction can also follow a missed appointment, usually at the jobcentre, where the claimant cannot provide an accepted good reason for not attending. A claimant who cannot afford rent, heating, food or hygiene needs because of a sanction can ask Universal Credit for a hardship payment. Claimants who have been told by a medical professional that they are nearing the end of life do not need a claimant commitment and cannot be sanctioned.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.