-- After a Freedom of Information (FOI) request was submitted to the DWP regarding foodbank referrals, and was later refused, it has come to light that the DWP has created some kind of cover-up regarding foodbank referrals with their staff allegedly reporting that they were specifically told that they must destroy evidence of foodbank referrals. The reason given for this was because, according to the DWP, it is not necessary for others to see referrals for foodbanks.
After an FOI was sent asking that the DWP release statistics regarding the number of people who they refer to foodbanks, they replied stating that they don’t refer people to foodbanks. Instead, they offer a signposting service for customers that show an interest in food banks.
Signposting cover up
Recently, the DWP released a checklist for Jobcentre staff that tells them what they should and should not do when “signposting” a benefit claim to use a foodbank. All evidence points to the fact that this information was released in error because in this information the DWP stipulate that Jobcentre staff may not use any records of referrals to monitor the number of signposting slips that have been issued.
What this makes clear is the fact that the DWP are in denial over foodbank link and are intent on covering up the scale of the issue by preventing people from seeing the scale of foodbank referrals made by jobcentres in an effort to hide the amount of hardship that is being caused, significantly downplaying the situation.
DWP in denial
The DWP, a government-run agency that looks after some of the most vulnerable people in the country is hiding statistics relating to how many of these people are living in ‘hardship’ and are unable to afford to feed themselves. Jobcentre team members are being told not to keep records of people who are starving to help keep the entire situation quiet and out of the public eye.
These statistics are a crucial element for improving the system that is in place and determining how to help universal credit suffers who are unable to afford to feed themselves. This information could help to identify the areas that require the most work and outlining ways in which successful changes could be implemented.
More information is available from Alex Tiffin. To reach him by phone, call 07375069497, or email at [email protected]. Alex’s postal address is 14 Raven Croft, Culbokie, IV7 8N.
Contact Info:
Name: Alex Tiffin
Email: Send Email
Organization: Universal Credit Sufferer
Address: 14 Raven Croft, Culbokie, IV7 8NF
Phone: 07375069497
Website: http://www.universalcreditsuffer.com
Release ID: 391335
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