The Income Support scheme

WQ.183/2021

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 26th APRIL 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 4th MAY 2021

Question

Will the Minister provide members with information about any one-off special payments made through the Income Support scheme to applicants, showing in each case for the period 2009 to 2019 –

a)  the total sum awarded;

1. the number of claimants;
2. the category of payments; and

will she provide her analysis of any trends apparent in this data? Answer

The Income Support (Special Payments) (Jersey) Regulations 2007 provide for one of payments to be made through the Income Support scheme to income support claimants and households whose circumstances are close to but just outside the income support criteria. Regulation three sets out the types of payment that can be made in this way.

3 Expenses that may be met by special payment

1. A special payment may be made to defray the following expenses payable by the claimant if the claimant or a member of the claimant's household is in urgent need of the goods or services being provided –

1. the cost of buying items of furniture and household equipment;

2. the amount of a deposit required in order to secure a dwelling to be leased or licensed to the claimant's household where there are circumstances that reasonably require the household to remove and the dwelling to which the household is to remove is appropriate to the needs of the household;
3. the expenses of the removal of the claimant's household where there are circumstances that reasonably require the household to remove and the dwelling to which the household is to remove is appropriate to the needs of the household;
4. expenses essential to the claimant or a member of the claimant's household taking up remunerative work;
5. the cost of medical services and items supplied as a consequence of medical services.

2. A special payment may be made to defray the expenses payable by the claimant that are necessary to prevent a serious risk to the health, safety or welfare of the claimant or a member of the claimant's household.
3. A special payment may be made to defray the expenses payable by the claimant –
   1. for the funeral in Jersey of a member of his or her household or any parent, child or sibling;
   2. to bring a body into or move a body out of Jersey.
4. A special payment may be made to defray the expenses payable by the claimant to remove the claimant and any member of the claimant's household from Jersey.
5. However, no expenses are payable under this Regulation unless the claimant has no other reasonable means of meeting the cost.
6. In this Regulation a dwelling is appropriate to the needs of the household if it is no larger than is reasonably necessary for that household.

The tables below give detailed information of the number of claims approved each year and the value of those claims by category of payment.

The tables show considerable variation from year to year. Special payments are provided on a case-by-case basis and demand will fluctuate depending on the needs of claimants from time to time. Special payments are only provided where there is no other benefit available to support the claimant. Since 2009 there have been significant changes both in the income support scheme itself and in other benefits available to lower income claimants. For example, the introduction of the Long- Term Care scheme in 2014 and the Pension Plus scheme in 2017 have provided alternative support for costs that previously might have been met by special payments.

The significant programme of refurbishment of social housing has created demand for support with removal costs and household equipment as large developments are completed.

Demand in some areas was suppressed in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. These include medical costs and costs associated with moving into new accommodation.

Number of Claims by year and category

Value of claims by year and category (£)