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Review: Review of Benefit Levels

Committee/Panel: Health and Social Security Panel
Launch Date: 9 October 2009 Close Date: To be advised
Submissions Deadline: To be advised Review Status: Report published
Review Report(s):
Ministerial Response(s):

About

The Income Support levels and how benefits interact with fiscal and social policy.

Terms of reference

  1. To assess whether Income Support benefit levels and structures are set appropriately in relation to:
      • The changing income distribution and the relative poverty standard; and,
      • Minimum standard of living and price inflation, with particular reference to rent levels and the effects of price inflation on households below average income.
  2. To assess how the level of Income Support benefits and their design potentially interact with other areas of fiscal and social policy, with particular regard to:
      • Income tax thresholds Social Insurance contributions Minimum wage levels Pensions Social rent-setting policy and housing finance.

With particular examination of -

      • Treatment of earned and unearned income;
      • Tapers and disregards;
      • Fixed Tariff Income; and,
      • The incentive structures that result from such design, especially those regarding incentives for employment and saving.
  1. To review the delivery of Special Payments with particular regard to dental and medical needs;
  2. To examine the structure of the components of Income Support and their treatment of potentially vulnerable target groups, to specifically include -
      • Children;
      • Pensioners;
      • Single parent families;
      • Young people; and,
      • Those with disability.
  3. To examine evidence concerning the impact of the phasing out of transitional payments; To consider any other pertinent matters that may arise during the course of the review.