How Universal Credit Sanctions Worsen the Mental Health of Claimants

Universal Credit is a term that is often heard when discussing social welfare in the UK. Introduced as a replacement for the previous benefits system in 2013, it has had its supporters and detractors alike. One of the most worrying aspects of Universal Credit is the sanctions it imposes on claimants. These sanctions can reiterate negative beliefs about those in financial difficulty and often worsen the mental health of those affected.

The purpose of Universal Credit sanctions is to ensure that claimants follow the terms of their benefits. However, increasingly, it seems that the punishments are disproportionate, and their impact on the mental health of claimants is often devastating. When a claimant breaches a condition of their welfare benefits, their benefits are sanctioned, meaning they receive reduced, or no, financial support.

A report by Mind, the mental health charity, highlights how the process of Universal Credit sanctions can cause a spiral of poverty and poor mental health. The report argues that sanctions can cause anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem and worsen existing mental health conditions. The financial strain caused by reduced income can lead to social isolation, inability to afford basic necessities, and can put claimants at risk of homelessness.

Universal Credit sanctions can be triggered by a variety of reasons, including missed appointments at Jobcentres, failure to apply for enough jobs or allocate enough time to job search. The system is complicated, and sanctions can occur even when the claimant is acting in good faith. For instance, a claimant can face sanctions for, perhaps, not being able to produce the required evidence of their job search history when asked.

Moreover, the bureaucratic process for challenging a Universal Credit sanction is often complex and time-consuming. According to Mind, claimants may be too stressed, anxious or unwell to challenge decisions effectively.

The impact of Universal Credit sanctions is felt by many at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. Young people who lack family support, people living in temporary accommodation and those with existing physical or mental health conditions are hit particularly hard. These groups, which are already prone to ill-health, may develop increasingly severe mental health conditions when their benefits are reduced or stopped entirely.

In summary, Universal Credit sanctions can often worsen the mental health of claimants. The system’s poorly defined nuances and complex bureaucratic process can lead to arbitrary outcomes, and culminate in disproportionate and devastating sanctions. These detrimental, and often long-lasting, consequences will only be tackled if there is a move away from the current, often-punitive approach, towards one that is more empathetic and welfare-centric. The negative feedback loop of sanctions and mental ill-health need not be a permanent feature of Universal Credit, and reforms could bring much-needed relief to those already suffering.