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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 19th OCTOBER 2010
Question
Will the Minister assure members that he will not follow the UK government in proposing targets for forcing those with a long-term disability to seek work by reducing the level of disability benefits, and, if not, why not?
Answer
I have no intention of forcing those with significant disabilities into seeking work but would encourage them where appropriate to do so. The long-term effects of not working can have a negative impact on the individual, including mental health issues and poor self-esteem leading to increasing divisions in our society, none of which are aims of this government
Recipients of incapacity benefit in the UK are only allowed to undertake very limited employment whilst receiving benefit. By contrast, Long Term Incapacity Allowance in Jersey allows the recipient to take up employment without any limits on the number of hours worked or the wages received. It does not preclude the recipient from the workplace unlike the benefit it replaced, which often led to the individual remaining on benefit until pension age.