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Universal Credit: Disqualification

Asked by Andy McDonaldLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 13 July 2026UIN 14329

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the rate at which Universal Credit claimants aged 18 to 24 are sanctioned compared with older claimants; and whether he plans to review the application of sanctions to different age groups.

Answered by Dame Diana Johnson

The latest published Universal Credit sanction rate figures for claimants aged 20 to 24 for February 2026 are available in the latest Benefit Sanction Statistics bulletin and accompanying data tables to February 2026, as well as through Stat-Xplore from the UC Sanction Rates dataset.

The Department keeps the operation of conditionality and sanctions under continuous review to ensure the system remains fair and proportionate.

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