Universal credit- are work coaches allowed to decide whether to let people off if they don't fulfill their claimant committment conditions?

Hi all,

I'd really prefer if someone who's worked in a UK job centre answers this.

1. Are work coaches allowed the discretion/decision to CONTINUOUSLY let someone off if they aren't meeting their claimant committment/requirements for universal credit or are they OBLIGED to sanction them if they dont have a valid reason?

2. Someone I know is continuously let off by their work coach even though he doesn't do all the hours- he does some. Is that ok and within her right to make this decision or is the work coach not following the training she's given by the government/relevant people? Bearing in mind this person says sometimes its due to the job search timeload/hours being a lot and also due to the fact there aren't a lot of junior/entry level suited roles for him to apply at the minute so he does what he can?

Many thanks