Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2022 to Question 94758 on Universal Credit: Employment and the Answer of 6 December 2022 to Question 99855 on Social Security Benefits: Disqualification, how the 600,000 additional in-work Universal Credit claimants required to meet with work coaches from September 2023 will be subject to sanctions without increasing in the Administrative Earnings Threshold.

The Houses of Parliament passed legislation in 2013 (Regulation 90 of the 2013 UC Regulations) which provides that DWP can place work related requirements on Universal Credit claimants who are earning less than their Conditionality Earnings Threshold.

To date, we have not routinely used these to apply conditionality to those earning between the Administrative Earnings Threshold and the Conditionality Earnings Threshold. However, as announced at the Autumn Statement, from September 2023, we will require claimants in the Light Touch Group to attend appointments with their work coach and to undertake activities that will increase their chances of securing more hours or better paid work now or in future.