St Helens has one of the highest rates of benefit cuts, figures show

The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) have revealed that around 100,000 people had their benefits cut or cancelled across the UK as of November 2022.

Benefit sanctions may be imposed if a Universal Credit claimant is deemed to have not complied with a work-related condition or not following procedures to look for a job.

However, many claimants have been sanctioned for simply missing their Jobcentre appointments, despite often not having the funds or available transport to make it on time.

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St Helens has one of the highest rates of benefit cuts

St Helens has one of the highest benefit sanction rates in the country (Image: Google Maps)

Looking into the most recent data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the IPPR research shows that St Helens has one of the highest benefit sanction rates across the UK.

In the 363 areas recorded in the DWP data, only 14 had a higher rate of benefit sanctions than St Helens.

The figures show that out of 4,128 people receiving Universal Credit payments in St Helens, 459 had their benefits cut or cancelled as of November 2022, a rate of 11.1%.

While the rate varies significantly between local areas, the figures show that people in the North of England are far more likely to face benefit sanctions.

'More and more' claimants sanctioned for missed Jobcentre appointments

Many residents are being punished for missing Jobcentre appointments (Image: St Helens Star)

The St Helens Citizens Advice team, which helps residents with legal, money, and benefits advice, said that they have noticed "more and more" clients being sanctioned in St Helens after missing Jobcentre applications.

Many of these have struggled to get there due to a lack of funds or convenient access to public transport, the Citizens Advice team said, and many are unable to contest the sanction as they do not have access to the internet.

Benefits sanctions a 'draconian' measure

St Helens Citizens Advice team is based at the Millennium Centre on Corporation Street (Image: St Helens Star)

David Reynolds, CEO of St Helens Citizens Advice, said: "We are aware of claimants being sanctioned [but] unfortunately they do not seek advice on challenging the sanction.

"More and more clients are struggling to attend the job centre due to having no funds for transport [and] some clients don’t have internet access and have limited mobile credit so are not always able to let their work coach know of their non-attendance.

"By the time the sanction is implemented, they are usually outside of the time limit to challenge it."

Describing benefit sanctions as a "draconian method", David said that they are a real risk to people's mental health and "achieve nothing else than financial hardship for the most vulnerable".

Citizens Advice teams offer residents advice on legal, money, and benefits issues (Image: PA)

With the sanctioning rate in the 'looking for work' category now double the rate before the pandemic, David's sentiment has been echoed by others concerned about punishing the most vulnerable during a cost of living crisis.

Henry Parkes, senior economist at the IPPR, said: “Sanction rates are climbing rapidly, and it seems your chances of being sanctioned are largely down to the temperament of your local Jobcentre.

"We already know that sanctions can push people into destitution, so as the cost-of-living crisis continues it is urgent that the government pauses, rather than expands, its sanctions regime while it investigates what’s driving the rise and variation in sanction rates.

“To press ahead instead with even tougher sanctions when the existing system is already something of a postcode lottery, and when everyone is struggling with rising living costs, would be both foolish and unfair."

Response from the Government:

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that the sanctions regime will be strengthened for those failing to look for work (Image: PA)

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Our priority is to help people find and move into work and the latest figures show an overwhelming amount - 97.6% - of sanctions are applied simply due to claimants failing to attend mandatory appointments, not for failing to undertake work search requirements.”

“Sanctions can often quickly be resolved by the claimant re-engaging with the Jobcentre and attending the next appointment,” they added.