It’s hard enough getting by financially on benefits, and really tough when you get a sanction. Here we explain what other help you can get.

Hardship payments

If you have been given a sanction and now cannot afford the basics like adequate food, heating, or soap you can apply for a hardship payment and may still be entitled to help with your housing costs. Hardship means severe suffering or lacking the essentials of life (food, clothes, heating, and accommodation).

You can only apply for a hardship payment if you have been sanctioned and lost 100% of your personal allowance or 50% if you claim as a couple. This means 16 and 17-year olds who have been sanctioned cannot claim.

To apply, you must have put right whatever went wrong (see step 1 above) and complied with your work-related requirements in the 7 days before applying.

To apply for a payment, call the Universal Credit helpline or go to your local jobcentre to get an appointment where you will be asked for more information.

At the interview, explain why you need the hardship payment:
•    Explain that you do not have enough money for food, or heating, or electricity. 
•    Explain that you have no savings or other income (if you do have savings or other income will that give you enough money to cope?)
•    Explain the impact this is having on you and any members of your family who live with you. 
•    If you, your partner or any children have a condition or disability, explain that too and the impact having inadequate food and heating etc may have on their health. 

Give as much evidence of your circumstances as you can, for example, a note from your doctor or a repeat prescription to show your medical condition, award notices, and bank or building society statements.

Hardship payments are usually paid at roughly 60% of the amount of Universal Credit that was deducted from your last Universal Credit payment because of the sanction. 

If your next Universal Credit payment will also be reduced because of the sanction, you will need to apply (and prove you are still eligible) for another hardship payment. 

You have to pay the hardship payment back from your Universal Credit payments when the sanction is over. (If you get the sanction overturned, you can use the money you get back to repay the hardship loan).You can also ask the DWP to consider not making you pay it back (what’s called ‘waiving recovery’) if paying it back is causing you financial hardship or making you unwell. Public Law Project provide guidance on how to do that. It is the same process that you use to ask them not to make you repay an overpayment. You may find the example letter in our overpayments guide helpful.

Emergency payments

You may be able to get an emergency payment to help pay for urgent needs, like food, heating, water, and medication. This help is often restricted to meet the needs of people most in need, so be prepared to explain why you really need it. 
If you or anyone in our household has any health conditions that may be made worse by a lack of food and heating, make sure you explain that.  Sometimes this is called the Housing Support Fund. 
•    If you live in England you may be able to get an emergency payment from your local council. Contact your council or check their website for information about this.
•    If you live in Wales you may be able to get an emergency payment from the Discretionary Assistance Fund for Wales.

• If you live in Scotland you might be able to get a crisis payment from the Scottish Welfare Fund.
• If you live in Northern Ireland you may be able to get an emergency payment from the Financial Support Service.

You can also find out about local emergency payments on the Advicelocal website. Put in your postcode and select ‘Welfare benefits’. Scroll down the page to ‘What other help is available?’ to find links to local help.

All sanctions should be challenged if you had a good reason for the failure. Most that are challenged are overturned, either at the first stage or at appeal. If you successfully challenge your sanction, you should get your money back. 

There is no time limit to challenge a sanction. You can challenge a sanction at any time – even if you were given it a year ago, or more. However, it is best to do it as soon as you can – after you have got your immediate needs met.

Look at the notification telling you about the sanction. It should tell you the reason for your sanction, how long it will last, and how much money will be deducted from your payments. If not, ask for that information. (There may be more than one letter about the sanction.)

You can ask on the phone or in person but it is best to do it in writing so you have proof of what you said and when. It is also easier to make a good case of why you should not have been given a sanction in writing. You can ask on the phone or in person for a mandatory reconsideration or anytime revision. However, it is recommended to ask in writing. This means you will a written record of what “good reason” you have raised.

If you don’t have an adviser to help you, the best way to challenge a sanction is to use Advicenow’s Universal Credit sanction anytime revision tool. It will help you write a letter that explains why you should not have been given a sanction. The tool helps you ask for an ‘anytime revision’ – this is the same as a mandatory reconsideration but there is no time limit. If you need help with using our tool, ask a friend. 

Copy and paste the letter created by the tool into your online journal or give a copy to the Jobcentre and get a receipt.

I lost my place on a work programme because I was late twice – I have depression and mornings are a very difficult time for me – I just couldn’t get there on time. I was sanctioned and my Universal Credit was reduced for 37 days. I appealed the decision - explaining that I had good reason for being late as my health had deteriorated. I won! 

Carys

What happens next?

Once the DWP has considered your mandatory reconsideration request, and have made their decision, you will be given a mandatory reconsideration notice (MRN) telling you the result.

You may receive the decision within 8 weeks. However, there is no deadline by which the DWP need to respond. 

If you have not heard back after 8 weeks, you should contact your Jobcentre by telephone or by writing a message on your Universal Credit journal asking for an update. You should include the following details:
•    your name,
•    NI number
•    the date you submitted your any time revision/mandatory reconsideration request.
•    Explain that you wish to complain about the length of time you have waited for the decision as the delay is causing you severe hardship. 
•    Tell them about some of the impacts the delay is having on you, for example, if it means you still don’t have enough money to feed yourself properly or go to medical appointments because you are repaying the hardship loan, or if the stress of not having enough money to live on is worsening your health.  

Another option is to complain to your MP, who will in turn complain to the jobcentre plus service manager. You can find your MP and email them from They work for you.

When you get an answer about your sanction reconsideration/revision

If they have overturned the sanction, congratulations! You will get the money deducted from your payments back. If you are given a sanction again it should not be for the longer period.

If part of the problem was that your claimant commitment was not reasonable, ask for it to be changed to better reflect your circumstances. See Claimant commitments and how to avoid a Universal Credit sanction for help. 

If they didn't change their decision, keep going and appeal. Many cases that are turned down at the mandatory reconsideration stage are successful at appeal. From the latest figures available, 81% of people who appealed a sanction won their case. (All of which had been turned down at the mandatory reconsideration or revision stage).

You need to send your appeal within one month if you can. If one month has already passed, still ask for an appeal but give reasons for the delay. Explain that you were unable to appeal sooner because you were unwell, needed help, or were unable to access advice. If you include reasons, your appeal is likely to be accepted if less than 13 months has passed. 

After that time, it is still possible – try and get advice if you can. If you cannot get advice, ask for an appeal. Explain that you did not know you could appeal the decision until now or you were not well enough to. 

At an appeal, an independent panel look again at the decision to give you a sanction to see if it was right. If they don’t think you should have been given a sanction, they will overturn it.  They do not work for the DWP. The independent panel is organised by His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). 

You can appeal online or use the  form SSCS1(if you live in England, Wales or Scotland). Both are easy-to-use and understand. If you use the online version a record of what you have said gets sent to your email address. If you use the form keep a copy, or take a photo of each page with your phone.

In Northern Ireland you use form NOA1(SS). Although the information in this section will be useful if you are based in Northern Ireland, the process is slightly different than set out here. 

If you have not already tried to get help and advice do so now (See How to find an adviser). Some advisers may be able to help do some of this preparation for you. If you are lucky enough to find someone who can help with the preparation, make sure you are clear which things your adviser is going to do for you, and which you need to do yourself.

When will the hearing be?

Usually you won't get told the date of the hearing until 2-3 weeks before. You should be given at least 14 days’ notice (unless you agreed to less on the form). You can phone the tribunal centre dealing with your appeal and ask them when your hearing is likely to be. They will be able to give you a rough idea of waiting times in your area.

The papers from the DWP

Look at the papers that you were sent by the DWP explaining why they made the decision to sanction you. If it is very big or includes examples of test cases at the beginning, don’t let that put you off. You can ignore these.

The most important parts are the bits about why the decision to sanction you was made. Read through it and look for anything you don't agree with. Make a note of all the things that are wrong. If you can, say why you don’t agree with them or why they are wrong. You can include this in a statement to the tribunal - see below for more information on statements. Also think about how you could get further evidence (from your doctor if you were ill for example) that would give a fairer picture.

Check that everything you want the tribunal to read is in the papers. If anything is missing, send in a copy before the hearing. If it isn’t included in these papers from the DWP, the judge won’t see it unless you provide it. 

Getting evidence

It will help your chances of success if you can get evidence to prove what you say, if possible. What evidence you will need will depend on what your sanction is for.

For example, if you were sanctioned for failing to do something in your Claimant Commitment, but your Claimant Commitment didn’t reflect a health problem or caring responsibility which meant you were unable to do that activity, you would ideally need evidence to show that:

• you had asked for a review of your Claimant Commitment, or that
• your work coach knew about your health problem or caring responsibilities.

If you do not have that then evidence of your health problem or caring responsibility will help.

You may need evidence to show that you did or did not carry out a particular activity. Or evidence to show that you had a good reason for doing or not doing something. For example, if you were ill, who knew about it and could support your version of events?

Consider asking your GP, support worker or another health professional, your carer or a friend for a supporting letter.

Evidence you already have

Think about what evidence you already have. Do you have:

• copies of letters or reports that the different doctors and therapists have sent to each other?
• letters or screenshots showing you were given an appointment at the same time as a part-time job or agreed training course the DWP knew about?
• receipts, tickets, or confirmation emails that show where you were or what you did?
• a record of calls made (on your phone) showing how you tried to ring the jobcentre to tell them you couldn’t make it or were going to be late? Did you put a message on your Universal Credit journal?

No evidence

Evidence is great if you can get it. But you can also win appeals with no evidence, or just the evidence you provide at the appeal hearing by explaining the situation.

Write a statement

If you (or someone who could help you) are good with writing, you should think about writing a statement which sets out why you should not have been given a sanction. 

A statement can be very useful as you can use it to set out all the points you want to make, and provide this to HMCTS before the day of your hearing.

The DWP do also sometimes agree that they have made the wrong decision before the hearing. If you have made your case beforehand, you increase the chances of this happening.

How to write a statement for your appeal

On the left is information to help you write your statement to the tribunal. It tells you all the things you should try to put in your statement and how to begin. You don’t need to fill in every box, only the ones which are relevant to you.

On the right is Carys’s statement. We have included it to give you an example of what a statement might look like.

What to do with the evidence

Read all the evidence through - does it support your case? If it doesn't, you don't have to send it to the tribunal (but if they ask if you had any evidence you didn't send them, you have to tell the truth). 

If you are using the Manage your appeal service, then you will be able to submit evidence online, including video and audio files. If you are not using the online service, send your evidence in the post (keep a copy) or email them to  [email protected] if you live in England or Wales, or [email protected] if you live in Scotland. Make sure you include your name and case reference number in the subject heading, and include the evidence as attachments not links to cloud storage services (Google Drive etc). 

Work out how you will participate in the hearing

If you are attending an in-person hearing, work out how you will get there and how long it will take the day before. The last thing you need is to add to your stress by getting lost, not being able to park, or being late.

If you have a telephone or video hearing, make sure you understand how that is going to work. If you have a video hearing you will usually be sent a link to test everything is working in advance. If you’re not sure, ask the tribunal service for help.

See our guide on court and tribunal hearings by telephone or video for more information on how these types of hearings work.

Arrange childcare

It is best not to take your children to the hearing with you. In fact, if they are with you, they will usually not be allowed into the hearing. If it will cost you, get a note from the carer/childminder confirming their rate – you will be able to reclaim some expenses.

Work out what you need to claim expenses

If you are going to a hearing in person, you can claim travel expenses for the day of the hearing if you use public transport or travel by car. You can also claim for a meal if you are away for more than five hours. If you have to take time off work, you may also be able to claim expenses for loss of earnings. And if you have had to pay a carer or childminder you can claim expenses up to the National Minimum Wage for the time you have been away.

Before you go to your hearing, check the current rules on expenses on GOV.UK.

The tribunal clerk will help you fill in a claim form when you go to the hearing. Make sure you take receipts for your travel and lunch. If you have lost earnings, make sure you have a letter from your employer confirming this. Contact the tribunal before the hearing if you need help.

Make notes of all the things you want to say on the day

This is really useful and also stops the hearing or the preparation from getting too stressful. Every time you think of something the Jobcentre got wrong, make a quick note of it. Remember to take these notes with you to the hearing so that you can tick them off as you say them. Be prepared to answer the judge’s questions first – you won’t necessarily get to say everything you want to say in order. But you should be asked if you want to add anything at the end.

About half of all hearings happen over video or phone now. Whatever kind of hearing you have you should prepare in a similar way.

Attending a tribunal hearing isn’t like going to court - they are supposed to be more informal. Just be polite to everybody and if you need help, ask for it and everything will be OK.

The hearing itself will usually last about 30-40 minutes.

You can attend alone, take a friend or family member with you for moral support or a representative if you have been lucky enough to find one. 

Sometimes the tribunal will decide the case in your favour just on the evidence, statement, or your explanation on the appeal form. If this happens they may ring you before the hearing or tell you when you arrive so the hearing won’t need to go ahead.

You can take a friend or relative to the appeal with you. If you are taking part by phone or video call, you can also ask for someone to be on the call with you, but you will need to check with the tribunal in advance. Find out more about how to have someone support you during a remote hearing.

If you have asked somebody to attend with you to give you support, show them the information in the box below, called 'For friends and relatives.' It explains what they can do to help.

Top tips to make the hearing go smoothly

• Make sure you arrive at least 20 minutes early, or have your phone charged and ready or click on the joining link in plenty of time.
• The judge may be running late and so you might have to wait. If you have made any notes of what you want to say, go over them. Try to keep calm. If you are attending in person have a snack in your bag in case you get hungry. There will usually be water available.
• Many people find they get very emotional at the hearing. It doesn't matter if you get upset. It won't make any difference to your chances. Remember, you can ask for a break to calm down.
• If you had asked for any help with communication or translation and it is not available, you should insist on having the hearing another day.
• If you sent them any evidence before the hearing, check that they received it.
• If you don't understand a question ask them to repeat it or put it another way. If you still don’t understand, tell them that.
• If they say something that isn’t right, make it clear that it is not true.
• Don't worry about using the 'right' language or ‘buzz words’. It is much better to use your own words. If you think they haven't understood something you have said, say it again in a different way.
• Try to make sure you don’t make light of any difficulties you have or exaggerate them.

The tribunal will tell the DWP their decision and you’ll get an official notice of the decision.

If you were successful, the DWP will work out how much they owe you. You will usually receive your money in about 4 - 6 weeks, unless the DWP appeal.

The DWP has the right to appeal to the Upper Tribunal if they think the tribunal judge did something wrong. They may ask the tribunal for a ‘statement of reasons’ which explains why the tribunal made the decision it did. If the DWP thinks there was an ‘error of law’ it can ask for permission to appeal. It is rare that the DWP appeals a decision, but the time it takes to get the ‘statement of reasons’ can delay you getting your money. If it does happen, they will write and tell you.

If you weren't successful, you will be sent a leaflet to explain your options. Sometimes you might be able to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. This is like a higher court. However, this can only be done if the judge did something wrong with the law. It is very complicated, and very few people can do this without an experienced adviser. If you want to look into this possibility, you need to move quickly - you will need to ask for a copy of the tribunal’s ‘statement of reasons’ within one month. See How to find an adviser.

You can complain about the service you received to the DWP using the online complaints form and/or ask your Member of Parliament (MP) for help. 

You might want to complain if you were given a sanction without being given the chance to explain your version of events, or if you were given a sanction despite having a good reason for the failure. For more information on how to complain see Complaining about the service you've received - benefits and tax credits from Citizens Advice.

If you are  given a sanction or threatened with a sanction unfairly, you can also complain to your MP. Write to their office and send a copy of the letter to the jobcentre dealing with your case. The jobcentre may take your complaint more seriously when they see that you have involved your MP.
Your complaint letter doesn’t need to be long or complicated. You will need to include your name, address, contact details, date of birth and National Insurance number. Then explain 

• why the decision to sanction you was unfair.
• the impact the decision has had on your ability to feed yourself (and your family), to heat or light your home, to pay for basics like soap or shampoo.
• the impact it has had on your health, and
• the impact it has had on your ability to look for work.

Did you have a good reason for doing or not doing the thing you were sanctioned for? Was that reason to do with your disability (or other protected characteristic)?

Or was your claimant commitment unreasonable given your health condition or disability?

If yes, you might be able to make the case that the DWP was discriminating against you.

See Disability discrimination and welfare benefits from Citizens Advice for more information.

If you think this might have happened to you – get advice as soon as you can as there are time limits for making a claim. You can also make a complaint at the same time.

Below we outline the process to give you an overview of what it looks like. 

What to do if I have been given a sanction by the jobcentre?

1. If you have been given a lowest or low level sanction, make sure your sanction isn’t longer than necessary by putting right whatever went wrong now. If you missed an appointment or training course, ask to reschedule it.
2. Next you need to apply for emergency help so that you are able to feed yourself and put the heating on. See Get emergency money if you have a sanction.
3. Reduce your outgoings – tell the bank to avoid charges, ensure you still get Council benefits, see if you can get help with electricity, gas and water bills. See Get emergency money if you have a sanction.
4. Ask for a mandatory reconsideration or any time revision to get the sanction overturned. Use our free Universal Credit sanction letter tool.
5. If that is not successful – appeal to a tribunal. Read our advice.
6. Lastly, reduce the risk of getting another sanction. Make sure your claimant commitment accurately reflects your circumstances. See Claimant commitments and How to avoid a Universal Credit sanction for help with this.

What do I do if I have no money because of a sanction?

Apply for a hardship payment or emergency help. Get support from a food bank.  There may be other help you can get too. See Get emergency help so that you can feed yourself.

How many DWP sanctions are overturned?

The last official figures released showed that 81% of appeal sanctions were won by the claimant. Bear in mind, all of those people had already asked for either a mandatory reconsideration or anytime revision.

Can I get a hardship payment?

Most people over the age of 18 can if they afford the basics like adequate food, heating, etc. To apply, you must have put right whatever went wrong (if you missed an appointment, you must have asked for it to be rescheduled - see  Put right what went wrong above) and have met all your work-related requirements in the 7 days before applying.

To apply, call the Universal Credit helpline or go to your local Jobcentre Plus office to get an appointment where you will need to explain how you don’t have enough money for food and heating and the impact that is having/will have on you and any members of your household. 
Hardship payments are loans – you have to pay them back when your standard allowance of Universal Credit is in reinstated.

Can I get help to fill in the forms to challenge a Universal Credit sanction?

Most people cannot get an adviser to help but you can use our simple Universal Credit sanction anytime revision tool. Ask a friend or family member to help if you need it. 

If the decision is not changed, you should ask for an appeal. You can get help to fill in the appeal form online from We are group. Call 03300 16 00 51.

Is there any point in trying to get a Universal Credit sanction overturned?

Yes. In recent research 86% were overturned at either the first stage or appeal. In the last figures released by DWP, 81% of appeal sanctions were won by the claimant. Bear in mind, all of those people had already asked for either a mandatory reconsideration or anytime revision. Use Advicenow's free tool to ask for a revision or follow our advice to successfully appeal.

Why have I been sanctioned?

Usually claimants are given a sanction for not doing something they committed to doing in in their claimant commitment. Most sanctions are given because the claimant didn’t go to an appointment or was late for it. However, you should not be given a sanction if you had a good reason for the failure. All sanctions should be challenged. Use Advicenow’s helpful anytime revision tool and this guide. 

Can I challenge a sanction?

Yes. All sanctions should be challenged. Use Advicenow’s tool to ask for a mandatory reconsideration/any time revision (they are the same thing, except you can ask for an anytime revision at anytime). If the sanction is not overturned, ask for an appeal. 

What is the time limit for challenging a sanction?

There isn’t a time limit if you ask for an anytime revision. That is why Advicenow’s Universal Credit sanction anytime revision tool supports people to ask for an anytime revision rather than a mandatory reconsideration. Other than the lack of a time limit, there is no difference. 

If you need to go on to appeal a sanction, you should ask for an appeal within one month of the date on the mandatory reconsideration notice. But if one month has already passed, ask for an appeal anyway. Just give a reason for the delay. 

Can I get financial help while I am sanctioned?

Yes. You can apply for a hardship payment (although you need to pay these back). There is also other help you can get. See Get emergency money if you have a sanction. 

Do I have to pay back a hardship payment?

Yes, hardship payments are a loan and you pay it back from your Universal Credit payments when they are reinstated. If you challenge your sanction and get the decision overturned (as most are) you get your money back. If you haven’t yet finished paying back your hardship payment, this will pay the rest back.

How long will my sanction last? 

Lowest and low level sanctions are based on how long it takes you to put right the thing that went wrong, so if you missed an appointment ask to reschedule it immediately. If you failed to provide evidence of your job search, provide it now. 

Otherwise, the length of sanction depends on what level of sanction you have been given and if you have had other sanctions in the last 365 days (if it was in the last 14 days it is ignored). See FAQs about claimant commitments and sanctions for more details.

How do I challenge a sanction?

You ask for a mandatory reconsideration or anytime revision. If you don’t have an adviser to help you, the best way is to use Advicenow’s Universal Credit sanction anytime revision tool. If the decision is not changed, ask for an appeal.

What is a 'good reason' for not meeting a UC requirement?

You should not have got a sanction if you had a good reason for missing the appointment, or failing to go to the training course etc. See our guide to claimant commitments and how to avoid a Universal Credit sanction for a list of good reasons and examples. 

It is now much harder to find advice and help with your benefits than it used to be.  But it is worth trying to see if you can get a bit of help to work out if you were sanctioned fairly, or to check what other benefits and entitlements you may be able to get.

A few agencies may be able to help you complete your appeal form, or even come with you on the day. So, it is worth ringing round a few to check what help is available. Be sure to accept any help a local agency can offer you! 

• Start by looking to see if there is a Citizens Advice that helps with benefits problems near you. Many now offer advice over the telephone.
  • Find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales
  • Find your local Citizens Advice in Scotland
  • Find your local Citizens Advice in Northern Ireland

You can see if there is an independent advice agency in your area via Advicelocal. 

If you live in Northern Ireland - visit Advice NI.

Check if your local council has a welfare rights service. In some cases they will be able to represent you. Phone the council and ask for ‘welfare rights’, check their website, or ask in your local library. Where these still exist, they are often very good.

Law Centres employ solicitors and caseworkers specialising in social welfare law including discrimination. They provide free advice, representation, and education on legal rights. Check if there is a Law Centre near you.

There are sometimes services that you can access through your GP, social worker, community mental health worker, or community centre. There's no harm in asking - so if you have one, call, and ask if there is a service for you.

Some charities provide advice services for particular groups - for example, the Disability Law Service offers advice to disabled people. Similarly, the Royal British Legion offers support to members of the armed services and veterans. Check if there is a charity that provides benefits advice to people in your circumstances. 

If you’ve nowhere else to turn, try your MP. They often have a caseworker who is not usually an expert on benefits but they will often be familiar with the problem and might well be able to help you.

Appeal - This means a judge (or in Northern Ireland a legally qualified member) who does not work for the DWP or DfC will look at your claim and see if the right decision was made. If they think the wrong decision was made, they will change it.

Benefits adviser - This is a benefits expert who can give you advice about your sanction. They may also be able to help you prepare for the hearing or even represent you.

Clerk to the tribunal - This is the person who organises the hearing and deals with the paperwork.

Claimant Commitment - to get Universal Credit you have to carry out certain work-related activities which are set out in your ‘Claimant Commitment’.

Complex needs - if you have difficult personal circumstances, or need extra support, for example, a disability or addiction.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - This is the government department that deals with most benefits and runs Jobcentres.

Department for Communities (DfC) – This is the government department in Northern Ireland that deals with most benefits and runs Jobcentres.

Error of law – where a decision was wrong because of a mistake in applying or interpreting the law.

Find a Job – the government’s online job site.

Hearing - This is when your appeal is looked at by the Tribunal. You can have a hearing in person (also called an ‘oral hearing’) where you speak to the Tribunal (which can be in person, by telephone or video call.) Or you can have a written hearing (also called a ‘paper hearing’) when the tribunal just look at the papers again on their own. We strongly advise you to attend a hearing, whether in person or by phone or video call. You have a better chance of success if you do.

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) - This is the government department that organises the tribunal judge and the hearing. In Northern Ireland it is the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service (NICTS).

Legally Qualified Member – the person who hears your appeal in Northern Ireland. (In England, Wales and Scotland this is the judge.)

Mandatory reconsideration - This means the DWP will look at their decision again. You must ask for a mandatory reconsideration before you can appeal a decision.

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service (NICTS) - This is the government department in Northern Ireland that organises the legally qualified member and the hearing.

NOA1(SS) - This is the form you must use to ask for an appeal if you claim benefits in Northern Ireland.

Online journal – Part of your online Universal Credit account where you can send and receive messages from your work coach and keep a record of what you’ve done.

Protected characteristics – personal characteristics which mean you are protected by discrimination laws.

Representative - This is an expert in benefits who might help you prepare for the hearing, gather evidence for the appeal, write to the tribunal and may be able to will come with you to help you put your case.

Sanction - A benefit sanction is what the DWP and Jobcentre calls it when they reduce or stop your benefit payment for a period of time. This might be because they decide, for example, you are not actively seeking work, you missed a work-focused interview, or some other reason.

Screenshot – also called a screen capture or screen grab – when you take an image of what is shown on the screen on your phone, tablet or computer.

Social Security and Child Support Tribunal - This is the name for the body, which is separate from the DWP who will hear your appeal to see if the DWP made the right decision.

SSCS1 (NOA1(SS) in Northern Ireland) - This is the form you must use to ask for an appeal

Statement of reasons - If the DWP is thinking about appealing against a tribunal decision, they must ask the tribunal for full written reasons for the decision.

Upper Tribunal - This is like a higher court. If you weren't successful in your appeal, you might be able to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, but you can only do this if the judge made a mistake with the law.

Work Capability Assessment - This is the process by which the DWP assess whether you have limited capability to work or limited capability for work-related activity, and are therefore entitled to Employment Support Allowance or the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit.

Work coach / Jobcentre adviser – A member of staff at the Jobcentre who you will speak to regularly as part of your benefits claim, including setting your Claimant Commitment.

Work focused interview – A meeting with a work coach to help you move into work, or to find more / better paid work, or to prepare for doing these things in the future. It looks at t what you can do and what support you might need. Regular interviews are called 'work search reviews' (where the work coach checks what you have been doing to find work).

Work-related conditions / requirements – These are the activities that the DWP believe will help you be able to have a job in the future. You may need to take part in work-related activity to continue receiving benefit. The DWP should make it clear if you have to do this and what will happen if you don't. Work-related activity consist of updating your CV, going to training courses, and doing various tasks that the DWP say will make you more able to get a job later.

Disclaimer

The information in this guide applies to England, Wales and Scotland. It will also be useful for people in Northern Ireland, although there are some differences to names and processes.

The law is complicated. We have simplified things in this guide. Please don’t rely on this guide as a complete statement of the law. We recommend you try and get advice from the sources we have suggested.

The cases we refer to are not always real but show a typical situation. We have included them to help you think about how to deal with your own situation.
 

Acknowledgements

Advicenow would like to thank all those who provided advice and feedback, particularly Caroline Selman from Public Law Project, and Leo Hope from Central England Law Centre.

This guide was updated thanks to funding from the Ministry of Justice under the Online Support and Advice Grant.