Guidance

Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions

It’s important 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: 21 July 2014
• Last updated: 26 October 2021 — See all updates

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Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions: how to keep your benefit payment

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This factsheet takes you through:

• what you must do to keep your benefit payment
• how long your benefit payment could be stopped for and when your claim could be ended
• what you could do if you didn’t agree with the decision to stop your benefit payment or end your claim
• what you should do if your benefit payment is stopped or your claim is ended
• how you find out about hardship payments if you don’t have enough money to live on because your benefit payment has been stopped or your claim has ended

Read more about Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Published 21 July 2014
Last updated 26 October 2021 + show all updates

1. 26 October 2021

   Added guidance about sanctions for New Style Jobseeker's Allowance.

2. 27 November 2019

   High level sanction maximum period reduced from 156 weeks (3 years) to 26 weeks (about 6 months).

3. 9 December 2016

   Added Welsh version of 'Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions: how to keep your benefit payment'.

4. 20 July 2016

   Removed this section – "What should I do if I think DWP hasn't notified me of a sanction?" because it's no longer needed.

5. 22 October 2015

   Added a new section that explains what you should do if you think DWP has not notified you of a sanction.

6. 26 November 2014

   Published November 2014 edition of the leaflet.

7. 21 July 2014

   First published.