The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a full list of 28 reasons for Universal Credit sanctions as new figures reveal record highs under the Labour government. Data shows that sanctions have surged, surpassing previous records.
Record Sanction Levels
Before Labour took office, the highest monthly sanction count was 57,276 in January 2024. However, since the election, sanctions have exceeded 60,000 on three occasions: 61,601 in October 2024, 64,866 in January 2025, and 63,025 in October 2025. A staggering 90% of all sanctions are for failure to attend or participate in a mandatory interview, with an additional 5% for not being available for work.
Sanction Rate Increase
In November 2025, 5.9% of Universal Credit claimants subject to conditionality regimes were undergoing a sanction, up 0.3 percentage points from August 2025 and 0.2 points over the past year. Nearly a quarter (24.5%) of all claimants are in conditionality regimes where sanctions can be applied, with the number stable at around 2 million.
Full List of 28 Sanction Reasons
- Failure to attend mandatory interview
- Failure to participate in mandatory interview
- Failed to comply with an interview requirement
- Availability for work
- Employment programmes
- Failed to participate in an employment programme
- Failed to undertake all work search action
- Reason for leaving previous employment
- Failed to comply with a work focused interview requirement
- Left work voluntarily
- Failed to undertake particular specific work preparation action
- Lost work because of misconduct
- Failed to apply for a job
- Failed to comply with an interview requirement (self-employed)
- Other (1,429 cases)
- Failed to undertake particular specific work search action
- Lost pay voluntarily
- Loss of pay through misconduct
- Failed to accept an offer of paid work
- Failed to maintain a CV
- Failed to be available to take up work
- Failed to attend skills assessment
- Failed to participate in training
- Failed to participate in work experience or work placement
- Failed to comply with requirement to provide evidence
- Failed to comply with requirement to confirm compliance
- Failed to comply with requirement to report specified change in circumstances relevant to work-related requirements
- Failed to improve personal presentation
The DWP continues to enforce these rules as part of its welfare reform agenda.
