United Kingdom

Seems like an intentional misinterpretation of the legislation.

At this rate the Tories will have the DWP send benefits claimants to workhouses run by Capita or G4S or other awful getup.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Jobcentre officials have been ordered to stop referring penniless benefit claimants to food banks because it breaches data privacy law, in a move charities have warned will cause delays in crisis help for thousands of hungry households.

Formal referral partners have data protection agreements in place with the food banks, which allows them to share the information safely,” a spokesperson said.

Government welfare policies administered by the DWP – including inadequate benefit levels, sanctions, and universal credit deductions and delays – are the biggest structural drivers of people using food banks.

Schools, GPs, children’s centres, social services, housing associations and charities such as Citizens Advice all refer clients in emergency need.

Gerrie Messer, the organiser at the Kingsbridge food bank in Devon, said claimants who had been able to get a referral by discreetly leaving a message on their universal credit online journal would now have to approach a school or social landlord.

The PCS union general secretary, Fran Heathcote, representing jobcentre staff, said: “We’re disappointed that yet again our members are being asked to put themselves at a distance from some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

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