New figures published today by the DWP show that over 70,000 ESA claimants have been sanctioned since the system was introduced in December 2012.
However, the figures also show that over one third of sanction decisions (over 23,000) were successfully challenged.
From December 2012 to June 2015 the total number of sanction decisions was 70,452 with -
- 11,238 applied for failure to attend a mandatory interview; and
- 59,219 applied for failure to participate in work related activity.
Of these -
- 49,269 decisions were reviewed with 21,831 decisions withdrawn;
- 2,109 decisions were reconsidered with 1,288 decisions overturned; and
- 568 decisions were appealed with 185 appeals being successful.
The new DWP figures include similar breakdowns of jobseeker’s allowance sanction decisions.
The new DWP official figures are available @ www.gov.uk/government/statistics/jobseekers-allowance-and-employment-and-support-allowance-sanctions-decisions-made-to-june-2015
Disability Rights UK’s submission to the Work and Pensions Select Committee Inquiry into benefits sanctions policy is available @ disabilityrightsuk.org/disability-rights-uk-submission-work-and-pensions-select-committee-inquiry-benefits-sanctions-policy