Universal Credit Sanctions - How much will a Universal Credit sanction be?

If you're sanctioned, you will get a message in your Universal Credit journal or a letter telling you how much your payments will be reduced by.

Sanctions come in two rates, a higher rate and lower rate. Only some people can get the lower rate. 

The higher rate means you lose the daily amount of your full UC standard allowance for each day the sanction applies. 

The lower rate applies in certain situations, listed below. At the lower rate, you lose 40% of your full UC standard allowance for each day of the sanction, rather than the full amount.

Your sanction should not be more than your standard allowance. If you get additional elements for Universal Credit, you will continue getting them. If you get money in your Universal Credit to help with your rent, it is important you carry on using it for your rent. 

Single

If you are single and over 25, the sanction will be £13.10 per day for as long as your sanction lasts.

If you are single and under 25, the sanction will be £10.40 per day for as long as the sanction lasts.

Couple

If you are in a couple and one or both of you is over 25, the sanction will be £10.30 per day if only one of you has been sanctioned. 

If you are in a couple and are both under 25, the sanction will be £8.10 per day if only one of you has been sanctioned.

Exceptions

You might have less money taken off your Universal Credit if:

• You are 16 or 17 years old
• You are only supposed to take part in work-focused interviews – this mostly applies to people caring for young children and people with disabilities
• You are someone who does not have to do anything to get your Universal Credit (no work related requirements), because:
  • You look after a young child or disabled person
  • You are pregnant and your baby is due in less than 11 weeks
  • You had a baby less than 15 weeks ago, including if it was stillborn
  • You are adopting a child and it is less than one year since the child was placed with you.

If you are in one of these groups but are having the full amount of your standard allowance taken from your Universal Credit payments, you should get independent advice.

If you are in one of these groups, your reduced sanction amount per day: 

• Single under 25 - £4.10 
• Single 25 or over - £5.20 
• Joint claimant both under 25 (per sanctioned claimant) - £3.20 
• Joint claimant, one or both 25 or over (per sanctioned claimant) - £4.10