No, that’s a popular myth, ummm. The “sanctions” process does not extend to penalise those who refuse suitable jobs. In fact it says nothing about accepting or declining work at all. To avoid sanctions claimants must:
• Be available for work and agree to do the things in your Claimant Commitment (Jobseeker’s Agreement )
• go to meetings on time with your work coach and take part in interviews
• apply for suitable jobs your work coach tells you about
• do everything your work coach tells you to do to find work, such as attending a training course or updating your CV
• take part in employment schemes when your work coach tells you to. You’ll need to meet your employment scheme provider on time and do the things they tell you to do to find work. You’ll still need to meet your work coach and do what they tell you to do.
• do all you can to find work
You will note from this leaflet:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416930/dwpf15-0315.pdf
the conditions I have set out above. Whilst it emphasises that claimants must do all they can to find work there is nothing to say that if unsuccessful in their quest, or unwilling by “failing” interviews”, that sanctions will be applied. The reason for this is obvious – there is no way to prove that a person failing to be recruited to a seemingly suitable post is actually unsuitable or has simply decided to go through the required motions but present themselves as deliberately unsuitable on the day. Claimants have to comply with the process but they do not have to be successful in finding work.