Oral Question·Department for Work and Pensions
“What assessment she has made of trends in the number of benefit sanctions in the last five years.”
Tabled: 12 September 2024Answered: 7 October 2024
Asked by
Dr Rupa Huq
Labour — Ealing Central and Acton
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)
In May 2019 the universal credit sanction rate was 3.17%. It reduced considerably during the pandemic, gradually returning to 3.51% by November 2021. It then continued to rise, reaching a peak of 7.29% in October 2023, but it is now falling, with a rate of 6.17% in May 2024.