Closed petition To hold an urgent review into the system of benefit sanctions.

Closed on 11 March 2016

Many of those who have had their benefits sanctioned (stopped) have had to use a Foodbank as they cannot afford to feed their family. They have their benefits stopped for between 2 weeks and 3 years as an immediate punishment for often minor reasons such as being 10 mins late for an appointment.

The DWP's own literature admits that sanctions are likely to lead to a "deterioation in health" during the first 2 weeks of a sanction. If a person were to starve their dog for 2 weeks as a punishment they would be arrested for cruelty and neglect but the DWP can put a person in exactly that situation. Being able to feed your family is a human right, to deny them that right as a "deterrent" is wrong and inhuman. An urgent review of this system is needed and should be stopped while it is reviewed