The number of sanctions applied to ESA claimants rose 334% between December 2012 and December 2013, according to new DWP statistics.
The report shows that since the new ESA sanctions regime was introduced on 3 December 2012, there has been a steady increase in the number of sanctions applied, from 1,102 in December 2012 to 4,789 in December 2013.{jcomments on}
The total number of adverse sanction decisions over the period 3 December 2012 to 31 December 2013 was 28,702:
- 5,889 were applied for failure to attend a mandatory interview and
- 22,814 were applied for failure to participate in work related activity
In addition, the statistics show that, of the 28,702 decisions:
- 13,994 were reviewed and in 8,508 cases, the decisions were overturned. This equals a “success” rate of nearly 61% and
- 331 cases were appealed, 90 of those (27%) were overturned on appeal
Since the new JSA sanctions regime was introduced on 22 October 2012, there have been a total of 1,028,819 adverse JSA sanction decisions up to the end of December 2013.
Of those 1,028,819 decisions:
- 317,411 were reviewed - 146,486 were overturned
- 34,503 were appealed – 6,158 were overturned at appeal
The DWP statistical release is available on the .Gov website
