Jobcentres told to stop referring benefit claimants to food banks

Some food banks do not ask for referrals but many require slips or vouchers as part of a screening process. Photograph: Vickie Flores/EPA

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.

For years the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has allowed jobcentres to issue DWP-designed “signposting slips”, which allow claimants to access local food banks, many of which will not give out food parcels without a formal referral.