What will happen if I don’t go to an interview?

If the Social Security Agency (SSA) asks you to go to a work-focused interview you have to go and if you don’t, your Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) may be reduced – this is called a sanction.

If you have a good reason for not being able to go to a meeting, make sure that you tell the SSA as soon as you know you will not be able to make it. If you do not tell the SSA about a missed appointment, they will contact you.

You have five working days to tell the SSA by post why you could not go before they reduce your ESA, although it can be less than five days if:

• the SSA can contact you by phone or face to face, or
• you have agreed to be contacted by text or email.