The number of people in Leeds having their benefits sanctioned has more than doubled compared to before the pandemic.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show 1,150 people on Universal Credit (UC) across the area were carrying a sanction in February. That was 4.1% of claimants, and well up from 435 (2.5%) in the same month of 2020, pre-pandemic.
Reasons for someone having their benefits reduced include not attending a work-related interview, failing to start a new role, or refusing a job offer. The length and severity of the punishment depends on the reason for it being imposed and whether someone has been penalised before.
