BRITS on Universal Credit who miss a job interview may not lose their cash as part of a Brexit shake-up.

Benefits sanctions could be abandoned for the time being while officials focus on Brexit, it was reported today.

3 Brits on Universal Credit might not be sanctioned as officials are drafted to work on Brexit

One million people are currently on the new flagship welfare system, which replaces six benefits with one monthly payment.

But if claimants don't meet their responsibilities - such as looking for a job, going to an interview or taking on more work - they can be sanctioned.

This means benefits can be slashed for up to three years.

But as officials are desperate to get Brexit sorted, benefits sanctions could be abandoned against Brits on Universal Credit, The Times reported today.

3 Yesterday the PM's senior ministers announced No Deal planning for Brexit had been ramped up Credit: AFP or licensors

What are benefit sanctions and what can you get them for? If you fail to meet each of your responsibilities that you agreed in your commitment without good reason, you will have a cut in your benefit, known as a sanction. This means your Universal Credit payments will be reduced for a set period, and the period of reduction will increase the more times that you fail to meet similar requirements, up to a maximum of 3 years. There are four sanction levels: Higher level You will be sanctioned for 91 days for your first higher level sanction in any 364 day period, 182 days for your second, or 1095 days for your third if you: have to meet the ‘work preparation requirement’ and you fail to take part in Mandatory Work Activity

have to meet the ‘work search requirement’ and you fail to apply for a particular job when told to do so

have to meet the ‘work availability requirement’ and you refuse a job offer

leave work or reduce your hours of work, whether voluntarily or due to ‘misconduct’ (while claiming Universal Credit or just before your claim)



Medium level You will be sanctioned for 28 days for your first medium level sanction in any 364 day period, or 91 days for your second if you have to meet either the: work search requirement – and you fail to take all reasonable actions to find paid work or increase your earnings from work

work availability requirement – and you are not available to start work or attend interviews Low level They last until you do whatever you were sanctioned for failing to do, plus 7 days for your first low level sanction in any 364 day period, 14 days for your second, or 28 days for your third if you fail to: attend or take part in a work-focused interview, and a lowest sanction level does not apply

attend or take part in a training course

take a specific action to get paid work, or to increase your earnings from work 9.4 Lowest level These apply if you only have to meet the work-focused interview requirement, and you fail to attend or take part in a work–focused interview, they last until you take part in one.

Civil service training could be suspended too, and officials who have retired could be re-hired.

Billions of pounds more is being spent on getting government ready for leaving without an exit deal.

A DWP spokesperson said they wouldn't comment on speculation, and the department were determined to delivering Universal Credit properly, including sanctions where necessary.

The news comes as The Sun launches its Make Universal Credit Work campaign - demanding action from ministers to help those struggling on the new system.

We are calling on Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd to slash the wait Brits have for payments, boost the work allowance so people can keep more of what they earn, and pay childcare costs upfront so working parents don't go into debt when going back into work.

Today we told how one family face a Christmas without any presents at all as they struggle to pay for bills and food on Universal Credit.

3 Amber Rudd is being urged to make vital changes to Universal Credit Credit: Rex Features

The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work Universal Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment. One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it. But there are big problems with the flagship new system - it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year. And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront - we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money. Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours - or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut. It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the government to: Get paid faster: The government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt. Keep more of what you earn: The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families. Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears. Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work. Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email UniversalCredit@the-sun.co.uk to share your story.

MOST READ IN POLITICS furlough 2.0 Rishi announces furlough plan where workers get 77% pay for doing 1/3 hours Latest 'PERILOUS POINT' PM warns stricter rules likely to last 6 MONTHS ruining Xmas for millions WINTER COMING England may have to ban home visits too as SAGE adviser warns lockdown coming ROAD TO WIGAN FEAR Stockport and Wigan could face fresh coronavirus lockdown rules in days CONFLICT OF INTEREST Sir Patrick Vallance has £600k of shares in vaccine maker GSK Latest NOT ON MY WATCH Rishi Sunak rejects claims Eat Out to Help Out caused coronavirus spike LOCKED IN Triple lock boost for pensions STAYS after 'Boris Johnson overrules Rishi Sunak' XMAS 'GIFT' PM to consider lifting 'rule of six' on Xmas so families can celebrate together LOCKED UP AGAIN New lockdown rules explained: Everything you can and can't do now HOME OFFICE Brits told to 'work from home if you can' as PM set to slap 10pm curfew on pubs

Over one million people are on Universal Credit with a further 7million set to be rolled onto it by 2023. But there are BIG problems with the system, The Sun wants to help Make Universal Credit Work

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours