Guidance

Benefit sanctions durations and sanction rate calculation: explanation of methodology

This document explains the methodology for the benefit sanction duration statistics and sanction rate.

Documents

Details

This background document explains the methodology for the benefit sanction duration statistics and sanction rate that is used from the February 2024 release for:

  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

This guidance supplements and should be read alongside the UC sanction statistics background and methodology document.

Published 13 February 2024
Last updated 14 May 2024 + show all updates
  1. Information about the the Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) has been added to the section on Universal Credit Data Sources. The section on the status of the statistics has also been updated. The latest release of sanctions statistics has been published today (14 May 2024).

  2. First published.