The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith has promised to respond positively to the recent Church of England-backed report on the spread of food banks in the UK.
Mr. Smith said that he was looking at how sanctioned claimants that lose jobseeker’s allowance need not lose housing benefit as well.
He told MPs -
“We want to do everything we can to make sure that people do not stumble into a process of sanctions”
- the loss of benefits entitlement that is one of the most common reasons that people use food banks.
The Secretary of State also announced that DWP staff in 700 Jobcentres were to be sent new advice that they must constantly inform claimants that short-term cash advances are available to people before their benefit claims are processed.
For further information see http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/08/food-banks-iain-duncan-smith-positive-response-critical
See also http://disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2014/december/benefit-sanctions-main-...