Recommendation 7

Sanctions risk undermining the work of Jobcentres and acting against the Government’s employment goals. DWP must develop a new approach to the use of sanctions. It should consider: • adopting a trauma-informed approach to sanctioning decisions; • issuing warnings rather than an immediate sanction; • having the option of non-financial sanctions, where appropriate, such as further mandatory appointments; • including greater assessment of someone’s circumstances and reasons for a breach prior to a sanctioning decision; • improving the communication of sanction decisions to people, and • providing an easier route for decisions to be challenged. In its response to this report, DWP should explain to the Committee what steps it will take to develop this approach. If DWP does not plan to change how it uses sanctions, then we recommend that, in its response, the Government sets out its evidence that the current approach to sanctions improves employment outcomes, including consideration of the possible “deterrent effect”. We also recommend that, in the context of its reforms, DWP undertakes and publishes new research to update its evidence base, which is based on data from 2019. This should include research into the consequences of sanctions on people’s health and wellbeing. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42) 53