Guidance

Employment and Support Allowance sanctions

It’s important that you understand what you must do to get your benefit payment and what will happen if you don’t do this.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 6 December 2016
• Last updated: 17 December 2020 — See all updates

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Employment and Support Allowance sanctions: how to keep your benefit payment

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This factsheet explains:

• what you must do to keep your full benefit payment
• how long your benefit payment could be reduced for if you do not do what you are asked to do by your work coach or adviser
• what you can do if you don’t agree with a decision to reduce your benefit payment
• what you should do if your benefit payment is reduced
• how you can get information about hardship payments

Read more about Employment and Support Allowance.

Published 6 December 2016
Last updated 17 December 2020 + show all updates

1. 17 December 2020

   Updated the opening hours of the DWP helpline to 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

2. 9 December 2016

   Added Welsh version of 'Employment and Support Allowance sanctions: how to keep your benefit payment'.

3. 6 December 2016

   First published.