Food Banks: No ID, No Checks, As Much Food As They Want So They Can Spend Benefits On Fags, Booze & Scratch Cards

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20th April 2014

So BigAndy9 was right all along. But you all knew that anyway.

Volunteers for a charity that blames welfare cuts for the soaring use of its food banks have admitted that fraudsters routinely ‘take advantage’ of the handouts.


The Trussell Trust, the UK’s biggest provider of food banks – which highlighted a ‘shocking’ rise in demand for emergency food packages last week – last night pledged to investigate after volunteers were filmed admitting that people could take free food without checks, and that many visitors were asylum-seekers.


One worker at a bank run by the trust said that people regularly ‘bounce around’ locations to receive more vouchers than they are entitled to.


A Mail on Sunday investigation has also found inadequate checks on who claims the vouchers, after a reporter obtained three days’ worth of food simply by telling staff at a Citizen’s Advice Bureau – without any proof – that he was unemployed.


Undercover reporters posing as volunteers at food banks in London and Nottinghamshire also found:

Staff at one centre gave food parcels to a woman who had visited nine times in just four months, despite that particular centre’s own rules stipulating that individuals should claim no more than three parcels a year.
Volunteers revealed that increased awareness of food banks is driving a rise in their use.
Staff at a supermarket, where shoppers are encouraged to buy extra food and donate it to a local food bank, were alleged to be later turning up to claim the food themselves.

According to the Trussell Trust’s statistics, more than 913,000 people received three days’ emergency food from its banks in 2013-14 compared with 347,000 in 2012-13.

The charity, which runs more than 400 of Britain’s 1,000 food banks, acknowledged that a third of the food was given to repeat visitors, but insisted the rise was based on genuine need for emergency food.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608606/No-ID-no-checks-vouchers-sob-stories-The-truth-shock-food-bank-claims.html#ixzz2zSgWLyaC

Nems wrote:

harvesmom wrote:

2 single mattresses (no bed base or duvet etc) and the promise of a fridge which hasn't materialised as yet. That's it.

Its worth phoning because some councils do have a pot of money that they keep very quiet about up here its the Liverpool Citizens support service. Do we know why they were homeless? also the one that is going into work its work asking if he can get a grant for clothing bus bass etc to get to work.

I only really know about the one, he gave up a rented flat up north to come down and start a job locally, he was sleeping on a mates sofa short term while he found somewhere to rent, company went bust before he started.... of course being a single guy there was no option but to go into a hostel. He was there 6 months then they closed it, they rehomed him and a chap he got on well with in a house, they are not in a relationship or anything but 2 lots of benefits cover the rent. Then you get into the downhill spiral of people wont give you a job if you are in a hostel etc.

To make matters worse the other lad has lost some of his benefits now the one has started work as well! Even though they are just mates.

People do need a bit of help sometimes to get themselves back on their feet. I always think, there but for the grace of God....

They're very lucky they even got rehomed! Single men are usually bottom of the scrap heap.

Harves tell,them as soon as they're able, to go on the council list. It's a definite must.

harvesmom wrote:

Nems wrote:

Its worth phoning because some councils do have a pot of money that they keep very quiet about up here its the Liverpool Citizens support service. Do we know why they were homeless? also the one that is going into work its work asking if he can get a grant for clothing bus bass etc to get to work.

I only really know about the one, he gave up a rented flat up north to come down and start a job locally, he was sleeping on a mates sofa short term  while he found somewhere to rent, company went bust before he started....  of course being a single guy there was no option but to go into a hostel. He was there 6 months then they closed it, they rehomed him and a chap he got on well with in a house, they are not in a relationship or anything but 2 lots of benefits cover the rent. Then you get into the downhill spiral of people wont give you a job if you are in a hostel etc.

To make matters worse the other lad has lost some of his benefits now the one has started work as well! Even though they are just mates.

People do need a bit of help sometimes to get themselves back on their feet. I always think, there but for the grace of God....

Yes they do. I cant think of any reason to cut ones benefit because of the other earning. Has he had a benefit decision notice?

eddie wrote:They're very lucky they even got rehomed! Single men are usually bottom of the scrap heap.

Harves tell,them as soon as they're able, to go on the council list. It's a definite must.

There isn't a snowballs chance in hell of them getting a council place edds, its on a points system isn't it and obviously people with families come first.

When he is up and running with his job he will be able to cover the rent anyway  ::D:: 

Nems wrote:

harvesmom wrote:

I only really know about the one, he gave up a rented flat up north to come down and start a job locally, he was sleeping on a mates sofa short term  while he found somewhere to rent, company went bust before he started....  of course being a single guy there was no option but to go into a hostel. He was there 6 months then they closed it, they rehomed him and a chap he got on well with in a house, they are not in a relationship or anything but 2 lots of benefits cover the rent. Then you get into the downhill spiral of people wont give you a job if you are in a hostel etc.

To make matters worse the other lad has lost some of his benefits now the one has started work as well! Even though they are just mates.

People do need a bit of help sometimes to get themselves back on their feet. I always think, there but for the grace of God....

Yes they do. I cant think of any reason to cut ones benefit because of the other earning. Has he had a benefit decision notice?

I don't really chat to the other one, he was in the hostel for a year and he just stays in his room and never comes out!

But when the one went to sign off they told him it would affect the other ones benefits, not the Job seekers, but the council tax and rent part of it.

harvesmom wrote:

Nems wrote:

Yes they do. I cant think of any reason to cut ones benefit because of the other earning. Has he had a benefit decision notice?

I don't really chat to the other one, he was in the hostel for a year and he just stays in his room and never comes out!

But when the one went to sign off they told him it would affect the other ones benefits, not the Job seekers, but  the council tax and rent part of it.

Mmmm I not convinced I hope he takes advice.

harvesmom wrote:

eddie wrote:They're very lucky they even got rehomed! Single men are usually bottom of the scrap heap.

Harves tell,them as soon as they're able, to go on the council list. It's a definite must.

There isn't a snowballs chance in hell of them getting a council place edds, its on a points system isn't it and obviously people with families come first.

When he is up and running with his job he will be able to cover the rent anyway  ::D:: 

Are they under one of the councils who are not using the funds given, see http://www.newsfixboard.com/t4137-councils-sit-on-67m-in-emergency-help-for-poor

In which case perhaps they need to point out to the council that they money is there, why are they not using it for what it was meant for? Not an easy thing to do, but sometimes you need to make a nuisance of yourself.

The other one shouldn't have lost benefits, so he needs to challenge that.

Thanks all, I'll tell them to look into it, must admit I have no idea how our benefits sytem works (or doesnt work as the case may be)