Call for evidence outcome

Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions: independent review: call for evidence

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
This call for evidence has closed

Detail of outcome

We published Matthew Oakley’s independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions and the government’s response to the review on 22 July 2014.

Matthew’s review recommends:

  • improving the letters sent to claimants
  • broader communication improvements
  • improving claimants’ understanding of what they are required to do
  • improving communication and understanding of the sanctions process

The government has accepted all of Matthew’s recommendations.


Original call for evidence

Summary

Matthew Oakley's independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) sanctions for claimants failing to take part in back to work schemes.

This call for evidence ran from
to

Call for evidence description

DWP has appointed Matthew Oakley, a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee, to carry out an independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions.

Matthew will look at:

  • the clarity of information given to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants who have had their benefits reduced for failing to take part in mandatory back to work schemes
  • what could be done to make the process clearer

He would like to hear from:

  • JSA claimants who have been sanctioned
  • people working on behalf of claimants who have been sanctioned
  • Jobcentre Plus advisers and decision makers
  • employment programme providers

We have also published a flyer you can use to raise awareness of the review with claimants.

Documents

Independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions

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Flyer for claimants: independent review of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Published 11 November 2013
Last updated 22 July 2014 + show all updates
  1. Published Matthew Oakley's independent review of Jobseeker's Allowance sanctions and the government's response to the review.

  2. First published.