(2) how many times each type of sanction available for (a) jobseeker’s allowance, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) employment and support allowance and (d) income support has been used in each year since 1997.
Data on sanctions is available for jobseeker’s allowance from the year 2000. Data on sanctions is not available for income support, incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance.
Questions about entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance can arise at any time from the commencement of a claim. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker’s agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether the claimant is actively looking for work or making them self available for work. In most cases payment of Jobseeker’s Allowance will be suspended until the doubt is resolved.
The following types of sanctions are available for jobseeker’s allowance claimants:
Varied Length Sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision.
Fixed Length Sanctions: A sanction of two weeks (four weeks if repeated within 12 months, and 26 weeks if already received a four week sanction within last 12 months) are imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker’s direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer’s decision on a sanction question.
Data on the number of times each type of sanction available for jobseeker’s allowance has been used in each year since 2000, including those that are available in relation to compulsory employment or training programmes, has been placed in the Library.
This information is also published on the Department for Work and Pensions website:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp
Please note, in 2006 the Department refreshed the delivery of the jobseeker’s allowance regime within Jobcentre Plus ensuring that all customers were receiving the right support at the right time. This led to a strengthening of the rights and responsibilities agenda which underpins the regime.
This coincides with the increase in jobseekers who were sanctioned between 2006-07 and 2007-08.
(2) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on unemployment benefits in each year since 1980, expressed in real terms;
(3) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on out-of-work benefits in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 expressed, in real terms;
(4) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on unemployment benefits in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11, expressed in real terms.
The available information is in the following table:
£ million (2009-10 prices) Incapacity-related benefits (including income support) Income support for lone parents Jobseeker's allowance Total Status: Outturn 1980-81 5,947 618 5,554 12,119 1981-82 6,146 761 7,683 14,589 1982-83 6,129 1,086 9,044 16,259 1983-84 7,143 1,377 10,233 18,754 1984-85 7,528 1,486 10,832 19,846 1985-86 7,700 1,690 11,208 20,598 1986-87 8,429 1,938 11,490 21,857 1987-88 8,635 1,989 9,647 20,270 1988-89 9,073 1,985 6,800 17,858 1989-90 9,339 1,936 5,166 16,440 1990-91 9,751 2,224 5,634 17,609 1991-92 10,919 2,722 8,159 21,800 1992-93 12,095 2,962 9,642 24,699 1993-94 13,433 3,107 9,650 26,190 1994-95 13,845 3,611 8,229 25,685 1995-96 14,086 3,723 7,434 25,243 1996-97 14,068 3,621 6,297 23,986 1997-98 13,815 3,304 4,730 21,850 1998-99 13,791 3,039 4,229 21,059 1999-2000 13,523 2,799 3,787 20,109 2000-01 13,815 2,844 3,243 19,902 2001-02 13,835 2,712 2,858 19,405 2002-03 13,571 2,399 2,784 18,754 2003-04 13,458 2,564 2,671 18,693 2004-05 13,214 2,378 2,326 17,918 2005-06 13,084 2,225 2,534 17,842 2006-07 12,807 2,143 2,612 17,562 2007-08 12,836 2,220 2,342 17,398 2008-09 12,503 2,088 2,916 17,506 Status: Forecast 2009-10 13,512 2,223 4,950 20,685 2010-11 13,533 1,831 5,642 21,006 Notes: 1. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures in the table have been adjusted to provide a consistent series throughout the period. Specifically, the following expenditure has been excluded from the table: Expenditure on invalidity benefit and incapacity benefit for people aged above state pension age, which was phased out between 1995 and 2000. Expenditure on income support in residential care and nursing homes, which was transferred to the Department of Health in 2002 and 2003. Child allowances in income support and jobseeker's allowance, which from 2003 were gradually replaced by child tax credit. 3. The JSA figures shown in the table are based on HM Treasury's assumption for claimant unemployment, which itself is based on forecasts from around 30 independent forecasters and is audited by the National Audit Office. It is intended as a cautious planning assumption, and does not represent the Treasury's own economic forecast. Sources: 1. DWP Statistical and Accounting data. 2. Pre-Budget report forecasts.