{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2012/5",
  "legislation_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2012",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-2012",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Other sanctions",
  "text": "(1) The amount of an award of universal credit is to be reduced in accordance with this section in the event of a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under this section.\n(2) It is a failure sanctionable under this section if a claimant—\n(a) fails for no good reason to comply with a work-related requirement;\n(b) fails for no good reason to comply with a requirement under section 23.\n(3) But a failure by a claimant is not sanctionable under this section if it is also a failure sanctionable under section 26.\n(4) Regulations are to provide for—\n(a) the amount of a reduction under this section, and\n(b) the period for which such a reduction has effect.\n(5) Regulations under subsection (4)(b) may provide that a reduction under this section in relation to any failure is to have effect for—\n(a) a period continuing until the claimant meets a compliance condition specified by the Secretary of State,\n(b) a fixed period not exceeding 26 weeks which is—\n(i) specified in the regulations, or\n(ii) determined in any case by the Secretary of State, or\n(c) a combination of both.\n(6) In subsection (5)(a) “compliance condition” means—\n(a) a condition that the failure ceases, or\n(b) a condition relating to future compliance with a work-related requirement or a requirement under section 23.\n(7) A compliance condition specified under subsection (5)(a) may be—\n(a) revoked or varied by the Secretary of State;\n(b) notified to the claimant in such manner as the Secretary of State may determine.\n(8) A period fixed under subsection (5)(b) may in particular depend on either or both the following—\n(a) the number of failures by the claimant sanctionable under this section;\n(b) the period between such failures.\n(9) Regulations may provide—\n(a) for cases in which no reduction is to be made under this section;\n(b) for a reduction under this section made in relation to an award that is terminated to be applied to any new award made within a prescribed period of the termination;\n(c) for the termination or suspension of a reduction under this section.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Pt. 1 modified by 1995 c. 18, Sch. 1 para. 2(3) (as inserted (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit (Consequential, Supplementary, Incidental and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/630), regs. 1(2), 10(b))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 29.4.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(2)-(6), Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (as amended: (1.7.2013) by S.I. 2013/1511; (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/2321; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (21.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3094; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32 (as amended (10.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101); (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 1.7.2013 and 29.7.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/1511, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (29.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2657; (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 28.10.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2657, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; and (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 25.11.2013 for specified purposes by S.I. 2013/2846, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; and (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I5",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 24.2.2014 and 7.4.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/209, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (16.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1452; (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2105) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; and (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I6",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 23.6.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/1583, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (30.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1661; (28.7.2014) by S.I. 2014/1923; (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3067; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I7",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 15.9.2014 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/2321, art. 3, Sch. (as amended or modified: (17.11.2014) by S.I. 2014/3057; (19.1.2015) by S.I. 2015/32; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I8",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 26.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/3094, art. 3 (with art. 6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I9",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 28.1.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/33, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended: (11.2.2015) by S.I. 2015/101; (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/634; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/483; (11.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I10",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 16.2.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/101, art. 3 (with art. 2(2)-(4)) (as amended or modified: (10.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/534; (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (20.7.2015) by S.I. 2015/1537; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I11",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 18.3.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/634, art. 3 (with arts. 5, 7) (as amended or modified: (17.3.2015) by S.I. 2015/740; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/376; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881; (16.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/10; (15.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/37; and (31.1.2019) by S.I. 2019/167)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I12",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 21.9.2015 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1537, art. 3 (as amended or modified: (23.11.2015) by S.I. 2015/1930; (14.1.2016) by S.I. 2016/33; (21.3.2016) by S.I. 2016/407; (23.5.2016) by S.I. 2016/596; (29.9.2016) by S.I. 2016/963; (25.1.2017) by S.I. 2017/57; (24.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/584; (19.5.2017) by S.I. 2017/664; (28.9.2017) by S.I. 2017/952; (2.2.2018) by S.I. 2018/138; (26.4.2018) by S.I. 2018/532; and (19.7.2018) by S.I. 2018/881)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I13",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 2.12.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1930, art. 3 (with art. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I14",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 27.1.2016 and 24.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/33, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I15",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 23.3.2016 and 27.4.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/407, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I16",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3) (6)-(8) in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.I. 2019/167, art. 4(1)-(3) (with art. 4(4)(11))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I17",
      "text": "S. 27(1)-(3), (6)-(8) in force at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2022/302, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I18",
      "text": "S. 27(4)(5)(9) in force at 25.2.2013 by S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 para. 14"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:09:01.675536+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}