CAS responds to call for evidence on Universal Credit in-work progression

Since our last response to this inquiry, CAB have reported of increasing numbers of clients facing barriers to in-work progression, as well as a number of in-work sanctions. In all cases, in-work sanctions would appear to be ineffective, and even counter-productive, in helping claimants, particularly those with health conditions and disabilities, to progress in work. In the worst cases, sanctions may actually have the opposite of effect of further distancing the claimant from full-time and/or better paid work, as well as increasing, rather than decreasing, in-work poverty.