YCL! June 2014 | Page 8

Your guide to Universal Credits ! The penalties for not doing what is expected are now tougher! If you don’t do what is agreed in your claimant commitment, a range of tougher sanctions can be enforced and your benefits will be cut. Sanctions can be given for not turning up to appointments at the job centre and not going to training and work arranged by them for you. Depending on what you do, the length of time your benefits will be cut is different. For each time you fail to do what is in your claimant commitment, the length of time the sanction is applied gets longer: 1st Failure Lowest level Refusing or failing to take part in an interview. Lower level Refusing or failing to attend an interview at the job centre Refusing or failing to take part in training or an employment programme Refusing or failing to provide evidence that you are meeting requirements Medium level (Only for claimants on Work related requirements) Not being available for work Not actively looking for work Higher level (Only for claimants on work related requirements) Leaving a job without good reason Losing a job through Misconduct Failing to apply for a particular job or take up an offer of paid work Refusing or failing to take part in mandatory work activity 2nd Failure 3rd Failure Open ended until you reengage with the job centre. 1 Week 2 Weeks 4 Weeks 4 Week s 13 Weeks 13 Weeks 13 Week s 26 Weeks 156 Weeks