The Universal Credit Regulations 2013

Low-level sanction

104.—(1) This regulation specifies the reduction period for a sanctionable failure under section 27 of the Act (other sanctions) where —

(a) the claimant falls within section 21 (claimants subject to work preparation requirement) or 22 (claimants subject to all work-related requirements) of the Act on the date of that failure; and

(b) it is a failure to comply with—

(i) a work-focused interview requirement under section 15(1),

(ii) a work preparation requirement under section 16(1),

(iii) a work search requirement under section 17(1)(b) (to take any particular action specified by the Secretary of State to obtain work etc.), or

(iv) a requirement under section 23(1), (3) or (4) (connected requirements: interviews and verification of compliance).

(2) Where the claimant is aged 18 or over on the date of the sanctionable failure, the reduction period is the total of—

(a) the number of days beginning with the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with—

(i) the day before the date on which the claimant meets a compliance condition specified by the Secretary of State,

(ii) the day before the date on which the claimant falls within section 19 of the Act (claimant subject to no work-related requirements),

(iii) the day before the date on which the claimant is no longer required to take a particular action specified as a work preparation requirement by the Secretary of State under section 16, or

(iv) the date on which the award terminates (other than by reason of the claimant ceasing to be, or becoming, a member of a couple),

whichever is soonest; and

(b) whichever of the following number of days is applicable in the claimant’s case—

(i) 7 days, if paragraphs (ii) and (iii) do not apply,

(ii) 14 days, if there was another sanctionable failure of a kind mentioned in paragraph (1) in the 365 days preceding the failure in question for which a 7 day reduction period applies, or

(iii) 28 days, if there was another sanctionable failure of a kind mentioned in paragraph (1) in the 365 days preceding the failure in question for which a 14 day or 28 day reduction period applies.

(3) Where the claimant is aged 16 or 17 years on the date of the sanctionable failure, the reduction period is—

(a) the number of days beginning with the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with—

(i) the day before the date on which the claimant meets a compliance condition specified by the Secretary of State,

(ii) the day before the date on which the claimant falls within section 19 of the Act (claimant subject to no work-related requirements),

(iii) the day before the date on which the claimant is no longer required to take a particular action specified as a work preparation requirement by the Secretary of State under section 16, or

(iv) date on which the award terminates (other than by reason of the claimant ceasing to be, or becoming, a member of a couple),

whichever is soonest; and

(b) if there was another sanctionable failure giving rise to a low level sanction in the 365 days preceding the failure in question, the number of days in sub-paragraph (a) plus 7 days.