Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her policy is on job seekers allowance claimants being sanctioned for spelling mistakes in their CVs.

Claimants will not be sanctioned for providing a CV containing spelling mistakes.

However, it could be envisaged that, where in order to improve a claimant’s chances in the job market, a Work Coach may agree a requirement with the claimant to amend spelling mistakes on their CV (but would always support them to do so). If the claimant then fails to complete this agreed requirement without good reason they could be sanctioned, but it would be about the failure to deliver on an agreed ask, rather than a claimant’s initial spelling error on their cv. Decision Makers will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities, and any evidence of good reason into account before making a decision.