Attempt to increase weekly carer’s allowance

Tuesday 25 October 2022

Two deputies want carers to be given more money from the States - suggesting their allowances go up by an extra 15%.

The Committee for Employment & Social Security and the Policy & Resources Committee have already proposed the allowance is increased by approximately 10% to £101.09.

But Deputies Gavin St Pier and Lester Queripel want a more substantial increase, saying it is wrong for carers to be “prejudiced by the States inability to complete the work it has itself deemed necessary”. They are suggesting the 15% sits on top of the 10%.

The States resolved that ESS and P&R should investigate extending the Long-Term Care Insurance Scheme to include those who those who provide care from home and raising associated allowances in 2016. 

Deputies St Pier and Queripel say they will lay a second amendment, which seeks an overall increase of 15% (5% on top of the 10%), if the first one for the overall 25% uplift is not supported by the States. 

This could see the weekly allowance raised to either £105.69 or £114.88 if successful. 

The estimated additional costs to those laid out in the original policy letter are £0.5m for the first amendment, and £166,000 for the second.  

The States will debate the budget for 2023 next week.