Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the NAO’s Benefit Sanctions report said: 

“This damning report is further evidence of the effects of the Government’s punitive sanctions regime. 

“The NAO makes clear that sanctions have costs, for claimants and the government and reveals that the Government has no idea about the true cost of the sanctions regime.

“Labour has repeatedly called on the Government to have an independent review of benefit sanctions and the NAO also makes this recommendation. The huge scale of delays in Universal Credit (UC) sanction decisions is more evidence of the Government’s chaotic roll-out of their failing flagship programme. It is a real concern as more benefits migrate to UC.

“It’s time the Government looks again at their sanctions regimes and ensures fairness and financial sustainability for both claimants and the Government.”