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The biggest shake up to Guernsey's social security systems in generations is coming into force today, but hundreds of people who may benefit have still not registered their details with the people who could help them claim what they are entitled to.
The previous 'rent rebate' and 'supplementary benefit' schemes have been merged into one Income Support system, which the Committee for Employment and Social Security admitted has led to some people being financially worse off.
However, it is believed most people who previously benefited from either rent rebate or supplementary benefit will see their financial situation improve under the new scheme.
Months of preparation work has been carried out leading up to today, with staff contacting individuals and families to discuss their individual cases. Earlier this week a plea was issued through the media to the 390 people who live in social housing but who had still not registered their wage slips so they could discuss their own situation with staff to ensure they were not left short today.
However, by the end of Thursday 5 July, 290 people were still to make contact. That may mean that their direct debits will deduct the full rent due on their homes, rather than any reduced amount based on their own circumstances. They may also not be able to claim other financial assistance available to them until they have registered and established what they are due with staff.
If you think you have been affected you should discuss your individual case with staff by making contact with Social Security as soon as possible.
Documents can be updated via the gov.gg website or by emailing incomesupport@gov.gg.
You can also call 732508 and speak to staff - the telephone lines will be open until 18:00 on Friday 6 July to answer any questions.
ESS said with Income Support replacing the rent rebate and supplementary benefit schemes, approximately 3,200 households have been affected by the change in some way. The new scheme has been designed to treat everyone the same whether they live in the private sector or social housing, including the work requirement for anyone under pension age.
It is the biggest change to social security systems in years, and the Chief Officer of ESC, Malcolm Nutley, said it had taken a lot of work to get to this point.
"This is a major reform of the welfare scheme, it's been a long time coming, at least eight years serious consideration, and through three political terms," he said. "There are certain to be teething problems, perhaps substantial teething problems which we will get over, because it's not the first and only week; this is an ongoing system, so we need to get in a new routine for the ongoing system for the much wider population of people on benefits.
"We're now moving to an ongoing system where income support will be helping 2,400 Guernsey and Alderney families each week so these are the people that are now in the fold of the income support cover."
Pictured l-r: Martin Bridle, Malcom Nutley, Deputy Michelle Le Clerc who is the President of the Committee for Employment and Social Security, Lynn McLaghan
Martin Bridle, Manager of Income Support said he can understand some people of those people may be worried about the changes but it has been designed to help the most people.
"People will have a perhaps correct perception that they are going to be worse off, but if they speak to us and engage then we can reassure them that we are doing everything we can to minimise that." He said other benefits may be available to some people including help paying medical or winter fuel bills.
Lynn McLaghan, Director of Housing also believes some people will be worried and is also urging them to ask for help.
"It's really important we are able to reassure our tenants we are there for them after this has gone live and they can contact us if they've got any concerns at all."
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