Job centre sanction

[Hippocalipo]

So I missed a job centre appointment on 21st March. I have an ongoing problem with my back from a car crash I was in several years ago. I need another operation on it and on that day I was in extreme pain, missed the appointment and by the evening I was in an ambulance, taken to hospital.

I'm now out of hospital and checked my uc journal and I've been sanctioned because I didn't give them a reason for missing the appointment. I've appealed it and asked them to lift the sanction. Theyve said the only way to lift it is to attend the job centre. I've told them I cannot walk.

The sanction is £12.90 a day, applied from 2nd April. Theyve also added 7 days, as it's my first sanction.

Any advice? Thanks

Can you get a doctors sick note?

Yes I've got one currently and my doctors approved another one for when this one ends as she wrote the first one before they knew what the prognosis was.

You need to appeal it. In your jornal request a mandatory reconsideration of the decision to sanction you. Lay out the facts as stated in your OP. If they don't change it request an appeal - Google online benefit appeal request, you'll fill out an online form on the gov website. You'll need to attend a tribunal (independent of DWP). You'll win.

All sanctions are challengeable.

You need to ask for the sanction to be looked at again; the process for this is called Mandatory Reconsideration.

If you cannot get to the Job Centre you need to ask for Reasonable Adjustments.

These are not optional; DWP need to amend their processes so that you can access their services on the same terms as somebody without your health issues.