Section 6J — Welfare Reform Act 2012: Higher-level sanctions

Higher-level sanctions 6J 1 The amount of an award of jobseeker's allowance is to be reduced in accordance with this section in the event of a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under this section.

2 It is a failure sanctionable under this section if a claimant—

a fails for no good reason to comply with a requirement imposed by the Secretary of State under a work preparation requirement to undertake a work placement of a prescribed description;

b fails for no good reason to comply with a requirement imposed by the Secretary of State under a work search requirement to apply for a particular vacancy for paid work;

c fails for no good reason to comply with a work availability requirement by not taking up an offer of paid work;

d by reason of misconduct, or voluntarily and for no good reason, ceases paid work or loses pay.

3 It is a failure sanctionable under this section if, at any time before making the claim by reference to which the award is made, the claimant—

a for no good reason failed to take up an offer of paid work, or b by reason of misconduct, or voluntarily and for no good reason, ceased paid work or lost pay.

4 For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) regulations may provide—

a for circumstances in which ceasing to work or losing pay is to be treated as occurring or not occurring by reason of misconduct or voluntarily;

b for loss of pay below a prescribed level to be disregarded.

5 Regulations are to specify—

a the amount of a reduction under this section;

b the period for which such a reduction has effect, not exceeding three years in relation to any failure sanctionable under this section.

6 Regulations under subsection (5)(b) may in particular provide for the period of a reduction to depend on either or both of the following—

a the number of failures by the claimant sanctionable under this section;

b the period between such failures.

7 Regulations may provide—

a for cases in which no reduction is to be made under this section;

b for a reduction under this section made in relation to an award that is terminated to be applied to any new award made within a prescribed period of the termination;

c for the termination or suspension of a reduction under this section.