Glossary

  • Administrative earnings threshold

    The level of earnings where work search or work availability requirements must not be imposed. For single claimants it is the monthly equivalent of £5 plus the applicable amount of the jobseeker’s allowance personal allowance for a single person aged 25 or over and for couples it is the monthly equivalent of £10 plus the applicable amount of the jobseeker’s allowance personal allowance for a couple where both members are aged 18 or over.

  • Backdating

    Your date of claim is set at an earlier date so that you can get paid from up to a month before your claim is received by the DWP.

  • Conditionality earnings threshold

    The level of earnings over which conditionality requirements will no longer apply. The threshold is set at a rate the claimant would be paid at the appropriate National Minimum Wage hourly rate, converted to a monthly amount. The threshold is normally based on a 35-hour working week if they are subject to all work-related requirements but can be fewer hours if the Secretary of State considers it fits in with caring responsibilities. The threshold is set at 16 hours if the claimant is subject to work-focused interview group only requirements or the work preparation requirement. Rules are slightly different for couples, the self-employed and apprentices.

  • Sanction

    You can be given a sanction if you do not meet requirements for the benefit such as failing to attend an interview with a work coach, leaving a job voluntarily, or failing to participate in a work programme. You may be able to avoid a sanction if you can show you had a good reason for either acting as you did, or failing to act.