Sanctions and Homelessness

The government has published statistics revealing the number of sanctions imposed on benefit claimants, but what do these statistics tell us and what is the impact on homeless people?  The number of people being sanctioned during the first three quarters of 2013 rose steadily. Although numbers dipped slightly in Q4 2013, figures were still 7% higher amongst Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants than Q4 2012. The most notable increase has been amongst Employment Support Allowance claimants, which was 188% higher in Q4 2013 compared to Q4 2012. These figures show that sanctions are affecting a growing number of claimants. This is particularly concerning for homeless people, as research has shown that they are more likely to be sanctioned than the general population. Read more on the Homeless Link website.