The Liberal Democrats will pledge in their general election manifesto to introduce a new "yellow card" system to give job seekers who break benefit rules a final warning before sanctions are imposed.{jcomments on}
Amid Lib Dem concerns at a dramatic increase in sanctions in recent years, the party will say that benefit recipients should be given "fair warning" before they forfeit their benefits.
In another sign of their determination to differentiate themselves from their Tory coalition partners, the Lib Dems will say the system needs to be reformed after a trebling in sanctions.
Under the current rules, claimants can lose four weeks of benefit for something as simple as missing one appointment at a JobCentre Plus office.
