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<p>The Department for Work and Pensions has not made an assessment of the levels of
foodbank use in Scotland.</p><p>The welfare system provides a strong safety net for
those who need it, spending over £95 billion a year on welfare benefits for people
of working age. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit
advances and budgeting loans as an additional safeguard for those who need them.</p><p>
</p><p>Jobcentre mangers have discretion to work with food banks in their local area;
and we are exploring how to build on current good practice to make it as easy as possible
for food banks to identify and refer back to the local Jobcentre any customers who
may not be receiving the full formal support to which they are entitled</p>
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