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Income Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

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.

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A decision made 23 August 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2013- 0080

Decision Summary Title

 Draft Income Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

Date of Decision Summary:

23 August 2013

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

Income Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

Date of Written Report:

23 August 2013

Written Report Author:

Policy Principal

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject: Draft Income Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

Decision(s): The Minister decided to lodge ‘au Greffe’ the Draft Income Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

Reason(s) for Decision:

The regulations create a system of enhanced penalties for Income Support claimants who repeatedly breach the conditions of their jobseeking agreement.  These people will first be warned, and if they fail to heed this warning they will face increasingly longer cuts to their benefit, followed by the eventual removal of benefit altogether.  Those who are genuinely unable to find work will not be penalised.  Penalties are also introduced for those people who leave paid work without a good reason and wish to claim Income Support.

The proposed regulations also contain a minor amendment that removes a household’s entitlement to a housing component in situations where all of its adult members are outside Jersey for longer than 4 weeks, or for similar periods where all adult members are in prison or in hospital.  In addition, the proposed regulations clarify the matters which must be taken into account when determining any medical component payable in respect of a person.  They also propose a slight revision to clarify the rules for assessment of a person who suffers from epileptic seizures. 

Resource Implications:

These regulations have limited financial implications.  The intention of the strengthened sanctions is to create the appropriate benefit structure within which jobseekers are motivated to find and remain in paid employment.  This should result in a decrease in benefit costs as the small number of individuals who are currently seeking to avoid their jobseeker responsibilities, will in future undertake these responsibilities more diligently and will move into paid employment.  If they fail to do this, benefit costs will be reduced as the sanctions are applied.

A substantial number of departmental staff currently support jobseekers through the Back to Work teams.  No additional manpower resources are required to administer the revised sanction regime.

Action required: Policy Principal to request the Greffier of the States to lodge ‘au Greffe’ the draft legislation and to request a States debate on the sitting commencing 8 October 2013.

Signature:

Position:

Minister

Date Signed:

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

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