Sanctions under Universal Credit are not back up to pre pandemic levels yet, but are edging . upwards.
Advisersneedtoconsider challenging the sanction (often a 'good reason' provision is in the law).
At the same time ask for a hardship payment to help replace (normally 60%) of the standard allowance that has been lost.
The problem is hardship payments need to be repaid (unlike with Job Seekers Allowance).
The Public Law Project has issued a guide concerning a handy change to the DWP Beneft Overpayment Recovery Guide as a result of a test case. It is now clear that the DWP has discretion to write off the recovery of Hardship Payments. 'for example if recovery would be detrimental to the health or welfare of the debtor, or if the claimant is facing fnancial hardship due to the debt.' Their client successfully challenged 6 sanctions for not attending appointments. She had 'a number of physical and mental health problems and had diffculties with literacy. '
Book now- - conditionality and sanctions are covered in detail here-