The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(8063)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st JANUARY 2014
Question
Following his response to my question of 10th December 2013 has the Minister discussed with his officers the possibility of advising the 403 recipients of Income Support impairment component level 3 of the potential for those responsible for their care to claim a carer's component of Income Support and, if so, what was the outcome?
Answer
In my response to the Deputy 's supplementary question of 10th December 2013 I advised members that I would discuss this matter with officers.
I can report that information about caring duties is already requested on the Income Support application form, and that my officers monitor Income Support households to indicate where there is a potential claim for either the carer's component or the Home Carer's Allowance benefit.
Officers will consider this need whenever a household indicates that one or more members has a caring responsibility, or where a household member becomes eligible for level 3 of the Personal Care element, and will write to these households if we believe they may be eligible for the carer's component. We provide information to social workers, carer's associations and charities, and offer presentations to these groups as frequently as they require it. The carer's component is now indicated on every Income Support award letter, and we have also created a new page of the Income Support website which provides information for carers alongside people with long-term illnesses and disabilities.
I should also stress that the carer's component the Deputy refers to exists as a component of the means- tested Income Support benefit, and so there will be people in receipt of level 3 of the Personal Care element who are cared for by people who would not themselves qualify for Income Support. Some of the 403 people referred to will also use the extra payments from Income Support to buy in outside care assistance from professionals.