Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria a person would have to meet to receive a sanction equal to the financial support they receive from the limited capability for the work element of universal credit (a) now and (b) from April 2017 following the change in the rate at which that element is paid.

Imposing a sanction is not something we do lightly. Claimants are given every opportunity to explain why they failed to meet their agreed conditionality requirements, before a decision is made.

A sanction reduces a claimant’s Universal Credit award by an amount never more than their standard allowance element entitlement.

A claimant with a health condition or disability, who makes a claim for Universal Credit on or after 3 April 2017, and who is found to have limited capability for work following a WCA, will not be eligible for the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit.