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Employment & Social Security would be forced to slash from its benefits spending £3.42m earmarked to help some of the most vulnerable people should deputies be successful in their bid to take an axe to States spending.
Two amendments to the Budget to be debated from Tuesday aim to roll back a £40m. revenue uplift agreed by Policy & Resources to varying degrees.
Should either be successful, ESS is ready to take action in response and has prepared an amendment to freeze most of the non-contributory benefit rates which normally rise in line with inflation.
"Freezing the benefit rates would have a particularly negative impact on carers, people with severe disabilities and other low-income households, i.e. some of the most vulnerable members of our community," the ESS amendment states.
"Carers provide vital support to those who rely on them for a high level of care, often at a personal and financial cost to themselves.
"Not increasing benefit rates would leave carers and people with severe disabilities facing even greater hardship. The Committee would find it disappointing to be unable to adequately support carers, given the significance of their role in supporting the community.
"The reduction in real value of the non-contributory benefits of 4.5% will directly harm families on low-income who depend on these benefits for additional support in order to have a minimum socially acceptable standard of living. While freezing the budget may help to preserve the General Revenue Fund in the short-term, the Committee is strongly of the view that adopting this narrow approach will adversely affect broader social and economic outcomes, both in the immediate and long-term."
Only a few areas would be protected should it go ahead.
The carer's allowance disregard; income limits for carer's allowance and severe disability allowance; income limits for family allowance; and income support limits of weekly income for people residing in residential homes, nursing homes, EMI accommodation, and the Guernsey Cheshire Home would be increased in 2025 under the backstop amendment.
Pictured top: ESS President Deputy Peter Roffey.
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