Page 48 - Reforming Benefits Decision-Making

Sanctions can have severe impacts not only on the financial well-being of
121
claimants but also on people’s mental and physical health.
2.53 Conditionality and sanctions can apply to claimants of UC, ESA, Job Seeker’s
Allowance and Income Support. The level and intensity of conditionality
depends on the claimant’s circumstances. In UC, claimants are placed in one
of four groups which define the level of support they can expect and what is
122
expected of them in terms of preparing for or finding work. For ESA,
claimants who are placed in the Work Related Activity Group are expected to
do things to prepare for work in the future.
123

2.54 Claimants agree work-related requirements with their work coach. These are
recorded in the claimant commitment. The claimant commitment is a core part
of the conditionality regime. It is meant to define a set of individually tailored
124
requirements that must be met in return for payments. If a claimant does not
meet the requirements set out in their claimant commitment they can be
sanctioned.

121 Welfare Conditionality, Final findings report: Welfare Conditionality Project (2018). In respect of
the impact of sanction on mental health see P. Dwyer et al, ‘Work, welfare, and wellbeing: The impacts
of welfare conditionality on people with mental health impairments in the UK’ Soc Policy Admin.
2020; 54: 311-326; E. Williams ‘Punitive welfare reform and claimant mental health: The impact of
benefit sanctions on anxiety and depression’ Soc Policy Admin. 2021; 55: 157-172.
122 The groups are as follows: 1. All work-related requirements. This consists of two ‘labour market
regimes’: (a) intensive work search regime for those on very low earnings, claimants with a health
condition who have not completed a WCA and some self-employed claimants; and (b) light touch
regime claimants on low earning between two thresholds. 2. Work preparation - claimants who are
expected to work in the future but are currently not expected to look for work. Including those assessed
as limited capability for work following a WCA. 3. Work focused interview - claimants who are
expected to work in the future but not expected to look for work yet as they are currently lead carers. 4.
No work-related requirements. This consists of two different types of claimants (a) those earning
enough; and (b) those not expected to undertake work-related activity, including those assessed as
having LCWRA following a WCA and those over state pensions age.
123 Those in the Support Group cannot be sanctioned.
124 DWP, ‘Written Evidence ANC0083’ (see n. 118 above).

39