Dataset: Universal Credit Sanction Rates
Description
Conditionality means work-related things an eligible adult will have to do in order to get full entitlement to Universal Credit. Each eligible adult will fall into one of six conditionality regimes based on their capability and circumstances.
The six levels of conditionality under Universal Credit are shown below. Different members of a household can be subject to the same or different requirements. As circumstances change claimants will also transition between different levels of conditionality.
Classification
Conditionality regime for claimants can take the following values:
| Conditionality Regime | Description |
|---|---|
| Searching for work | Not working, or with very low earnings. Claimant is required to take action to secure work - or more / better paid work. The Work Coach supports them to plan their work search and preparation activity. |
| Working - with requirements | In work but could earn more, or not working but has a partner with low earnings |
| No work requirements | Not expected to work at present. Health or caring responsibility prevents claimant from working or preparing for work. |
| Working - no requirements | Individual or household earnings over the level at which conditionality applies. Required to inform DWP of changes of circumstances, particularly if at risk of decreasing earnings or losing job. |
| Planning for work | Expected to work in the future. Lone parent / lead carer of child aged 1(a). Claimant required to attend periodic interviews to plan for their return to work. |
| Preparing for work | Expected to start preparing for future even with limited capability for work at the present time or a child aged 2(b), the claimant is expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for work including Work Focused Interview. |
(a) Aged 1 - 2, prior to April 2017.
(b) Aged 3 - 4, prior to April 2017.
An additional category (shown below) is also available for selection where conditionality is not recorded on the source systems.
Unknown or missing regime
Total number of categories: 7
Quality Statement
Conditionality Regime is based on an individual's circumstances on the count date. Sanction Indicator shows whether the claimant's payment has been reduced due to a sanction on the count date.
Universal Credit is paid in arrears. It is therefore possible for a claimant to be in a Conditionality Regime where they are not expected to look for work but are having their payment reduced due to a sanction, as shown in the example below. Care should be taken when interpreting any tables created by cross-tabulating these two variables.
The increase in the number of people with an unknown conditionality regime between June and July 2019 is due to data supplied from Universal Credit live service sources ceasing at this point. A change in our methodology was therefore necessary to ensure people were correctly assigned to conditionality regimes.
1An assessment period for Universal Credit is a period of one month. At the end of each assessment period, a claimant's Universal Credit for that month is calculated.