Report
The Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007 has been approved by the States and the scheme itself is due to be implemented in January 2008. These Regulations make amendments to existing laws which need updating to bring them in line with the Income Support Law (Jersey) 2007.
Regulation 1 Income Tax ( Jersey ) Law 1961
Some of the benefits that are being replaced by Income Support are mentioned in the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961. This Regulation will amend the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961 to remove references to these benefits and to state that Income Support benefits are not taxable.
Regulation 2 Health Insurance ( Jersey ) Law 1967
This regulation will introduce minor amendments to bring the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967 in line with current practice. It will also improve appeal procedures to ensure that they are Human Rights compliant.
Regulation 3 Social Security ( Jersey ) Law 1974
This Regulation will bring the appeal process in the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974 into line with appeals made under the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007.
Regulation 4 Invalid Care Allowance ( Jersey ) Law 1978
At the moment, Invalid Care Allowance is linked to the care of an individual receiving Attendance Allowance. This Regulation will amend the Invalid Care Allowance (Jersey) Law 1978 to replace the existing link with a link between the top two levels of the personal care element of the Income Support impairment component and Invalid Care Allowance. The appeal provisions of the Invalid Care Allowance (Jersey) Law 1978 are also brought in line with appeals made under the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007.
Regulation 5 Christmas Bonus ( Jersey ) Law 1991
The Christmas Bonus that is payable to pensioners is also currently available to individuals who receive Attendance Allowance, Adult Disablement Allowance or Child Disablement Allowance. As these benefits are being replaced by Income Support, the Regulation will amend the Christmas Bonus (Jersey) Law 1991 so that, in future, Christmas Bonuses will be available to individuals who are entitled to any of the top three levels of the personal care element of the Income Support impairment component.
Regulation 6 Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) ( Jersey ) Regulations
The current Health Insurance Exception (HIE) scheme sets rates for various types of medical benefit. As Income Support is replacing HIE, this regulation will remove the references to these rates in the Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations.
Note
In addition to the Regulations, a number of Orders will also be required to update existing Orders.
As with the Regulations, Orders will remove references to benefits that are being replaced by Income Support. They will ensure that determination and appeal mechanisms are consistent with those set out in the Income Support (Jersey) Law 2007. As the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967 has been amended to introduce individual entitlement to health benefits, Orders will also amend the wording of various forms.
There are no manpower or financial implications attached to these Regulations.