Do the DWP have to tell you if they have sanctioned your money? And will they let...

Ludichris8

you explain your actions by sending a letter asking questions for you to answer before they make a decision on whether to make a sanction or not?

I`m on Universal Credit and get paid once a month on the 16th. I agreed to go on a sector based work academy course for 1 week. During this time I made I was having and still am having trouble at home and mainly been living at home on and off due to personal problems escalating into violence against me. This ment I missed the last 2 days of my sector based work academy course which I sent an email explaining the personal problems I am having and that it ment me not attending for those 2 last days. My advisor never said anything to me and was positive because I had an interview a few days after and asked him could I put him down for a character reference.

I havent received any letters about being sanctioned but I dont know how the DWP works whether they santction and leave it for weeks before they tell you that you have been sanctioned.

Things jobwise are looking up as I am waiting for a DBS check to come through then I can start work and things are slowly getting better at home. Its just this dilema that keeps going through my head that is making me anxious and just wondering if there is anybody who knows about this that can give me some sort of peace of mind.

Thank you.

rogerblack

Email is generally a bad idea, unless the provider has _specifically_ said you can send queries to them by email.
Even if they've tacitly agreed by responding in the past.
Send an actual registered or recorded letter, take a copy.
Or at least follow up the email with such.
Yes, legally, they must send a letter before sanctioning you.
This can however be lost in the post, like any other.

How it should work is that the provider of the service sends the DWP a form saying 'X diddn't attend' (if they don't have good reason).
The DWP then writes to you asking if you have good cause. If no response is gotten, or no good cause is found, a letter is written and informing you of the sanction and your right of appeal through mandatory reconsideration, and eventually to tribunal.