Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department issues to universal credit claimants living in (a) temporary and (b) supported accommodation that receive benefit sanctions.

Customers on work-related benefits are expected to take responsibility for meeting the requirements that they have agreed to with their Work Coach. These requirements will be clearly set out in the Claimant Commitment and tailored to the individual’s circumstances, making them realistic and achievable. The consequences and implications of not meeting a mandatory work-related requirement are clearly set out and explained to the customer. A sanction will only be applied if they fail to meet these requirements without demonstrating good reason.

If a sanction is applied, the customer is issued with a decision notification letter. This letter outlines the sanction reason, the amount and duration of benefit reduction and, where applicable, what action the customer needs to take to bring an open-ended sanction to a conclusion. The letters also contain information on what to do if the customer disagrees with the sanction decision, how to apply for Recoverable Hardship Payments, as well as links to money management advice and other sources of financial support.