To ask the Minister for Communities how many people on Universal Credit have received sanctions due to their inability to use online services or lack of access to online services; and whether she will consider updating the system to contact people before sanctions are imposed to check the person is able to use and access online services.

Information on the number of sanctions imposed for Universal Credit, together with the reasons for imposing the sanction is available in reports on my Department’s website at the following link: -

https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/welfare-supplementary-payments-discretionary-support-standards-advice-assistance-and-sanctions.

When someone claiming UC has been unable to fulfil a particular conditionality commitment a number of attempts will be made to contact them, including by telephone, to establish why they were unable to do so. Consideration will also be given as to whether the person is vulnerable or has complex needs. If the case is then referred for a sanction and prior to the decision being made, the Decision Maker will also attempt to phone the person to again confirm whether there is any vulnerability or reason why they were unable to engage with us at that time.

Whilst conditionality is a key part of the existing rules, I want to further explore how we can use that to incentivise rather than punish people, and to make sure we have the necessary safeguards in place to protect the most vulnerable and particularly those with underlying health conditions.

I plan to make further announcements about this in the time ahead.