The document provides an overview of the latest quarterly sanctions statistics for Universal Credit (UC) released by the DWP in May 2025, highlighting significant changes in data reporting and trends in claimants under sanctions.
• Latest Release Details: The DWP’s May 2025 release lacks data on the total number of sanctions and sanctions-related figures due to changes in statistical methods, with an update expected by June 9.
• Claimants Data: As of April 2025, there were 7.65 million UC claimants, with 2.14 million (28.0%) in conditionality regimes where sanctions apply.
• Trends in Sanctions: A downward trend in the proportion of UC claimants serving a sanction has continued, averaging 5.2% in the latest quarter, although there are small increases in certain groups.
• Policy Developments: No plans for reforming the sanctions system were indicated by the new government, while the maximum deductions from UC payments were reduced from 25% to 15%.
• Jobcentre Support Reports: The National Audit Office published a report on Jobcentre staffing, highlighting a crisis in support availability for claimants, which has affected employment outcomes.
• Emerging Research: Recent DWP research has explored the effectiveness of job search reviews and support for disabled individuals, indicating ongoing efforts to assess and improve employment support services.
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