The DWP has once again been defeated in court over its decision to impose sanctions on unemployed claimants who failed to take part in forced labour schemes. However, only those claimants who have lodged an appeal against their sanction can take advantage of the latest judgement.{jcomments on}
A graduate from Birmingham challenged a sanction imposed on her by the DWP because she failed to take up a post working for no wages at Poundland. Her claim that the sanction breached her hunam rights was upheld by the courts, but the government then retrospectively changed the law in an attempt to get round the judgement.
The Court of Appeal have now ruled that the forced labour scheme is still a breach of human rights, but that only those who had already lodged an appeal against their sanction would be entitled to compensation.
Around 2,500 claimants have appealed against their sanction in similar circumstances, but over 300,000 did not do so and will not be covered by the ruling.
Read the full story on the BBC website
