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WQ.111/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 13th MARCH 2023
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 20th MARCH 2023
Question
Given the Minster’s pledge to review all benefits for which she is responsible, will she commit to an examination of the rules governing maintenance income under the Income Support system, where payments received as maintenance are included as income, but only 25% of this maintenance income is disregarded in Income Support calculation, and if she will not agree to review this position, will she advise why not?
Answer
Although not specifically mentioned, it is assumed that the question relates to the commitment in my ministerial plan to undertake “…a high-level review across all benefit areas to identify areas where action is required in 2023”.
I have completed the high-level review. The next stage is to confirm the areas where action will be undertaken in 2023. This will be complete in early April. At that time, I will be able to confirm whether the treatment of maintenance income is to be included in the 2023 work schedule.
The Income Support calculation ignores a percentage of each pound of income, currently 26% (not 25% as suggested in the question).
This means that a household who gets £100 weekly income sees their benefit decrease by £74 and is therefore £26 a week better off. This system is used in most benefit systems that are similar to Income Support.