Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether, in the event that Jobcentre Plus is unable to offer online facilities that are required to look for work, claimants can still be sanctioned for failing to reach job search targets.

Activities agreed within a Claimant Commitment will be tailored to the individual circumstances of the claimant. Where this includes looking and applying for jobs online, and the claimant does not have their own internet access, the Work Coach will agree a reasonable level of activity, taking into account the availability of alternative means of access, e.g. free public services.

When reviewing job search activity undertaken, the Work Coach will take into account circumstances within the period being assessed, e.g. the availability of online access to jobs and any alternative activity the claimant may have undertaken.

Where a case is referred for consideration of a sanction, the Decision Maker will take into account the reasonableness of what was required and information provided by the claimant, e.g. activity they have undertaken and any other relevant factors, which might include lack of assumed online access to jobs.