06 June 2019
The Minister for Social Security has announced proposals that would increase the amount of income support that families receive.
If passed by the States Assembly, the new family supplement will be increased by £260 a year. Other income support components will also see increases of up to 1.9% from October this year and workers and pensioners will keep more of their own income under the new package of measures.
Minister for Social Security, Deputy Judy Martin said: “The proposal aims to help family households receiving income support. I am particularly pleased to announce a further increase in the family supplement that was introduced at the beginning of the year, which, if adopted, will help parents with the costs of bringing up their children. The proposition also supports the government’s strategic objective to put children first.”
Income support funding provides financial help for individuals and families with low income; including pensioners, carers and people with a disability or long term health condition.
The cost of this proposal from October to December 2019 was built into the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2019. The cost of the proposals from January 2020 onwards will be included in the next Government Plan 2020-2023, to be debated in November 2019.
The proposal will be debated in mid-July to allow for adjustments to be made in August, to prepare for new payments from October.