Retrospective sanctions applied due to a new court decision?

Carol, I have not seen any court decision about this but it certainly is happening. My son fell victim to it and wouldn’t appeal against the decision. Maybe that is what they are hoping for, it keeps the figures right.

I work in Ashton under Lyne, I have just had three of these letters land on my desk. Does anybody know which new decision has been made as there is no reference to the decision in the letters?

It would help to know what the sanctions were for.

well after ringing my local LMA DM, they have informed me they have 10,000 of these and the decision is based on a recent appeal from the DWP regarding ‘work programme’s’. the sanction will be imposed on current JSA claims and implemented straight away, the lady quoted Jobseekers back to work Act 2013.

I have attached a copy of the letters we have received, the LMA DM explained these letters have been issued due to Wilson and Reilly, but could not explain any further?

I had a feeling it was this.  Basically the court ruled that the sanctions imposed were unlawful.  The government then reversed the effects of the decision with the Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Act 2013 but, and controversially, applied that legislation retrospectively.  This enabled the government to avoid repaying those it had unlawfully sanctioned and sanction now those it omitted to at the time of the alleged breach.

Thanks, people, that would explain it.
Next step: see if it’s possible to challenge a law being applied retrospectively, and find a client with the stamina to follow through with an appeal case. Tall order!