ESS President, Deputy Peter Roffey said the help has been targeted at people who are struggling to make ends meet, and he urged anyone who has any queries about whether they might benefit from income support to contact his department to discuss what options might be available to help them.

Pictured: Deputy Peter Roffey said the emergency increase in income support rates will help struggling families through the cost of living crisis.

"Although the cost-of-living crisis is not unique to Guernsey, we need to ensure that we do what we can, as soon as we can, for Islanders on the lowest incomes, who are already feeling the impact of the increasing cost of food, fuel and many other essentials," he said.

“If you don’t currently receive income support and are struggling to make ends meet, I urge you to get in contact with the Income Support team to see what financial support may be available to you."

Among the increases coming in to force today under the emergency measures, is a 5% uplift to all income support requirement rates, meaning the level of income below which people can receive income support. 

Benefit limitations, maximum rent allowances and the winter fuel allowance are also increased from today.

Pictured: The States agreed the increased rates will come into force on 7 October, 2022.

The emergency measures were called a short term 'stop gap' to help people when they were agreed.

The interim uprating is being managed within the 2022 budget by reallocating any ESS department underspend, while the 2023 uprating will be brought to the States for debate in November alongside the 2023 budget.

Among the proposals for 2023 onwards is a suggestion that the island's weekly benefit limitation be removed.

Pictured top: Anyone struggling to make ends meet is urged to contact ESS for assessment.