Universal Credit can be a lifeline for people who are struggling financially - but there are seven reasons why your payments can be cut.
Universal Credit payments can be reduced for claimants if they fail to meet Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) criteria. Here, we have rounded up the reasons why a sanction can be placed on the benefit.
They include claimants failing to apply for a vacancy without good reason or failing to take up an offer of work without good reason, reports Leicestershire Live. There is also information below about how long the sanctions can last.
Read More: Parents could get child benefit stopped if children skip school, says Michael Gove
Reasons why Universal Credit can be cut
According to Citizens Advice, you can see your UC decrease if:
- you've reported a change of circumstances that means you'll get less - for example, you've moved home or you're paying back an advance payment, hardship payment or budgeting advance
- you've earned more from work
Long term sanctions, meaning a reduction in UC payments, can be placed on you if you:
- fail to undertake Mandatory Work Activity without good reason
- fail to apply for a particular vacancy without good reason
- fail to take up an offer of work without good reason
- ceased paid work through misconduct, or voluntarily, without good reason
- lose pay without good reason by reason of misconduct or voluntarily
This reduction in Universal Credit payments will last three months for the first failure to comply, six months for the second. Sanctions should never be more than half your standard allowance and if you receive additional elements for UC, then you will continue receiving them.
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