Income Support (General Provisions) (Amendment No. 18) (Jersey) Order 2015

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 9 October 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2015-0081
Decision Summary Title :	DS – Income Support (General Provisions) (Amendment No.18) (Jersey) Order 2015		Date of Decision Summary:	09 October 2015
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR – Income Support (General Provisions) (Amendment No.18) (Jersey) Order 2015		Date of Written Report:	09 October 2015
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Income Support (General Provisions) (Amendment No.18) (Jersey) Order 2015
Decision(s): The Minister decided to make the Income Support (General Provisions) (Amendment No.18) (Jersey) Order 2015
Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister for Social Security is making several changes to the functioning of Income Support. These policy changes will improve the targeting of Income Support benefits and is part of the overall package achieving a £10m reduction in the 2019 benefit budget required for the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2019. This Order makes changes to the amount that is to be disregarded when calculating a household’s income for the purpose of assessing entitlement to Income Support. It provides that 23% of earnings of any adults are to be disregarded, and removes the provisions that allow 6% of any income from an award of Long Term Incapacity Allowance, Invalidity Benefit or a pension or annuity of any person in the household above the upper limit of compulsory school age but under pensionable age. The percentage of income to be disregarded from maintenance payments is increased from 10% to 23%. The Order amends the provisions that allow a percentage of income from a pension or annuity of a person in the household who has attained pensionable age to be disregarded. The rate to be disregarded will now vary according to the date when a household became entitled to Income Support. The Order will take effect from 1st January 2016.
Resource Implications: Making this Order is part of the overall package of £10m benefit savings required for the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2019. It has no manpower considerations.
Action required: Policy Principal to notify the Greffier of the States and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made so that it may be notified to the States, and forward the signed and sealed Order immediately to the States Greffe for publication and archiving.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):