Select a region
Deputy Peter Roffey has again encouraged anyone who is struggling financially due to the rising cost of living and other pressures to find out if they are entitled to any income support.
He said that there is no shame in it, and that it is there to support people when they need it.
The President of Employment and Social Security also questioned why many people claim family allowance without a second thought but wouldn't want to claim other benefits available to them.
Giving the States an update on the work of his committee this morning, Deputy Roffey said he wanted to "encourage anyone who's struggling financially to contact the MyGov Customer Hub team on 221000 to find out if they're eligible for financial support."
He said this is important "as we reach the time of year when our energy bills go up."
Pictured: Social Security is based at Edward T Wheadon House along with income support.
Deputy Roffey has previously encouraged people to seek income support if they are struggling, highlighting the ways it can help different people when ESS asked the States to back their call for a temporary uplift in benefit payments this autumn.
The rates of income support usually go up in January but ESS asked, and was allowed, to increase payments from this month amid the rising cost of living.
Deputy Roffey said then that anyone who was struggling should ask for advice to find out what they may be entitled to. He reiterated that encouragement this morning.
"Income support is a means tested benefit that provides financial assistance to people both with and without work," he explained.
"If someone's already receiving income support and has a health condition or disability which means they need to spend extra on energy, laundry, clothing, or diet, they might qualify for an extra needs allowance of up to £20 per week. An application form is available online.
"The winter fuel allowance of £37.06 a week is automatically paid to all householders receiving income support. But a reduced winter fuel allowance may also be payable to a householder if they don't normally qualify for Income Support if their weekly income exceeds benefit rates by less than the level of the winter fuel allowance.
"Income support can also provide assistance with reasonable medical and paramedical expenses for people whose income is just above the entitlement threshold for income support.
Pictured: Deputy Peter Roffey.
"A person can qualify for a 'medical-only' claim if their net household income exceeds their total household requirement rate by less than £50 per week, or less than £100 per week in exceptional circumstances, provided that their savings are below a fixed limit. This effectively softens the income support means test and enables people to access essential medical and paramedical services who may otherwise struggle to afford to.
"These 'excesses' over requirement rates in order to qualify for medical only benefits have remained unchanged in cash terms since 2014. ESS would very much like to increase them by £50 in order to help that hard to reach group of households on modest incomes but above Income Support during the cost of living crisis. A conversation in this respect is ongoing with P&R.
"There's no shame in seeking financial support. It is an absolute entitlement. I am always puzzled why almost no one is sheepish about claiming family allowance but some people seemingly are over income support. They shouldn't be and I encourage people who are struggling to do just that."
Deputy Roffey also highlighted a silver lining for anyone who has benefited from the recent suspension of income limits for social housing tenants.
Those tenants were allowed to earn and save more during the immediate post-covid era, but some were worried that as soon as the cap was reinstated they could be penalised for having too much money in the bank, or because their earnings had increased to above its prior level.
The suspension of income limits has been extended, and Deputy Roffey said 'grandfather rights' will be introduced to protect any savings or additional income attained by affected tenants, meaning they won't be penalised.
"Another recent decision has been to extend the suspension of income limits for existing social housing tenants for another two years until the end of 2024 in order to encourage our tenants to maximise their economic participation.
"And we guarantee in advance that if and when such limits are reintroduced it will be with 'grandfather rights' which exempts anybody who can show they increased their income beyond those limits during the three years when the policy was suspended."
The Committee originally made this change in November 2021 as an interim step after examining ways it could support employers in response to the labour shortage. ESS now says it believes the island continues to face a labour shortage so has decided to extend the suspension for a further two years.
The Committee will examine the impact of this suspension during the next two years and Deputy Roffey again reiterated the promise to not penalise those who have taken advantage of the scheme.
"Labour shortages continue to be a concern for businesses. We have very low unemployment and there are many jobs available. Extending the suspension of income limits applied within social housing is something my Committee considered an important step in order to further increase States support to the business community.
"I’d also like to take the opportunity to remind employers and jobseekers of the support offered through the Job Centre, such as the recruitment grant for employers, various schemes to enable employers to open up work opportunities for jobseekers and access to training for jobseekers to improve their chances of finding work."
Benefits boost for poorest families
Bid to force P&R to work on poverty
P&R says States "must tackle" housing needs and cost of living
ESS plan to deny £600 increase to minimum salary for young workers
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.