Sanctions for couples without dependent children - one person fails their obligations

If one partner fails their obligations for the first time, that person's portion of the benefit is reduced by 50%, unless they have a non-financial sanction imposed.

For more information on non-financial sanctions see:

• Non-financial sanctions

While the benefit is reduced, the couple can continue to get supplementary assistance. Winter Energy Payment can continue to be paid as the client is still getting a qualifying benefit.

If the person being sanctioned has not recomplied within four weeks, they will have their portion of the benefit and supplementary assistance suspended. Winter Energy Payment cannot continue to be paid to the client who has failed as they are not getting a qualifying benefit. The full couple rate of Winter Energy Payment can be paid to the partner who hasn't failed.

Their benefit will remain suspended until they recomply or their portion of the benefit is automatically cancelled after 13 weeks.

Note if a client has more than one obligation failure initiated on the same day, only one sanction can be imposed on the client. For the sanction to be lifted, the client must successfully dispute or recomply with all the obligation failures.

If one partner fails their obligations a second time, their portion of the benefit is suspended. While their portion of the benefit is suspended, their portion of supplementary assistance is also suspended. Winter Energy Payment cannot continue to be paid to the client who has failed as they are not getting a qualifying benefit. The full couple rate of Winter Energy Payment can be paid to the partner who hasn't failed.

Their benefit will remain suspended until they recomply or their portion of the benefit is automatically cancelled after 13 weeks.

Note if a client has more than one obligation failure initiated on the same day, only one sanction can be imposed on the client. For the sanction to be lifted, the client must successfully dispute or recomply with all the obligation failures.

If one partner fails their obligations for a third time, their portion of the benefit and supplementary assistance is cancelled. Winter Energy Payment cannot continue to be paid to the client who has failed as they are not getting a qualifying benefit. The full couple rate of Winter Energy Payment can be paid to the partner who hasn't failed.

They are subject to a non-entitlement period for a period of 13 weeks. They may get a provisional benefit if they start a six-week approved activity or programme of activities.

If they have not started a six-week approved activity or programme of activities, they may reapply at the end of the non-entitlement period to get a benefit.

For their partner's entitlements see:

• Payments to the non-sanctioned client or partner

The effect of a sanction on a young partner's assistance depends on whether the client has children and is youth money managed or not.

For more information see:

• Sanctions for young partners
• Recompliance 13 week non-entitlement period