UC sanction numbers hit record high under Labour

Details: Published: 04 March 2026

Universal credit (UC) sanction numbers have hit record highs since Labour took power, the latest figures released by the DWP reveal.

Before Labour took office, the highest number of monthly sanctions had been 57,276 in January 2024.

However, since Labour were elected, up to October 2025 – the latest month that figures are available for - sanctions have gone over the 60,000 mark on three occasions.

In October 2024 there were 61,601 adverse sanction decisions, in January 2025 there were 64,866 and in October 2025 there were 63,025.

90% of all sanctions are for failure to attend or participate in a mandatory interview and a further 5% are for failing to be available for work.

You can read the full sanctions statistics here.

Benefits and Work subscribers can download a copy of our 30 page guide to “Ways to Prevent and overturn ESA and UC sanctions” from the ESA and UC guides page

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Bethy · 5 hours ago
The sole objective with UC is to reduce and stop benefit money. "Tailored" Support is a lie as WFI seem to come with a script and Work Coaches do anything and everything to try and trap you and trick you into a sanction. Nothing more than a " How can we sanction this claimant to get our bonus"
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John · 6 hours ago
"UC sanction numbers hit record high under Labour". As a number yes, due to the increase in the number of people on UC and subject to the UC sanctions regime. But, not as a percentage of claimants who are on UC and subject to UC sanctions regimes who are under sanction.

As a percentage of those subject to UC sanctions regimes the percentage under sanction is lower under Labour (latest figures 2025 November 5.9%) than the record high under the Tories (2017 January 11.8%) and lower than the same month in the last two years under the Tories (2022 November 6.9%, 2023 November 6.7%).

Labour are sanctioning a lower percentage of claimants on UC and subject to UC sanctions regimes.
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