The sanctions regime for people Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) changed from the beginning of December 2012. As a result of the changes to the regime, the Department for Work and Pensions has reviewed its methodology for publishing ESA sanctions official statistics with a view to ensuring the publication remains relevant whilst also seeking to maintain a consistent time series.

In comparing methodologies, an error was discovered in the current official statistics measure leading to double counting of some sanctions. For this reason, statisticians at the DWP have decided to suspend publication of ESA sanctions statistics based on the current method. The final set of Official Statistics relating to the previous sanctions regime due for publication in February 2013 has been cancelled.

The DWP will publish the first set of statistics for the new ESA sanctions regime in May 2013 alongside a revised historical series and a working paper explaining the differences between the methodologies.