Independent review of JSA sanctions

DWP has appointed Matthew Oakley, a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee, to carry out an independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions.

He wants to hear from claimants and interested parties about their experience of the operation of sanctions that have been given while claimants were on mandatory back-to-work schemes like:

• the Work Programme;
• Mandatory Work Activity;
• sector-based work academies;
• skills conditionality; and
• the Community Action Programme pilot.

Matthew is seeking information about whether claimants sanctioned while on these schemes understand:

• why they have been sanctioned?
• what they could have done to avoid a sanction?
• how the sanctions process works?
• how they can appeal against the sanction?
• that financial assistance could be available to them and how they can access it?
• how the process could be made clearer to them?

Matthew would like to hear from:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants who have been sanctioned while on one of
• the schemes listed above;
• people working on behalf of, or advising, claimants who have been sanctioned;
• Jobcentre Plus advisers and decision makers; and
• employment programme providers.

Details of this independent review and how to contribute your views confidentially through the call for information are available at:
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions-independent-review

Alternatively, contact the review team via email at:
sanctions.review2013@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

The call for information closes on 10 January 2014

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