Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2023 to Question 198769 on Universal Credit: Disqualification, how many children were living in households subject to a Universal Credit sanction in the lowest geographical level and in the most recent month for which data is available.

Information on the number of children living in households subject to a Universal Credit sanction is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Claimants are only sanctioned if they fail to meet their agreed requirements or fail to take up or stay in employment without good reason.

When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions, caring responsibilities or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.