Sanctions can be applied if you fail to comply with any of the work-related requirements which apply to you.
There are four levels of sanctions which can be applied, and the length of time you can be sanctioned can range from one week to three years.
If your Universal Credit award is reduced as a result of a sanction you can apply for a recoverable hardship payment.
AdviceNow have produced a useful survival guide to benefit sanctions.
If you have been sanctioned and you disagree with the decision you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
If you are still unhappy after this then you can appeal the decision. If you would like more information about sanctions and how to dispute them, then please contact our welfare rights service or your local CAB office.