Drop in benefit claimants

Monday 23 March 2015

The number of households claiming Income Support benefits has dropped by almost 150 in the last two years.

People from Jersey and the British Isles still make up the overwhelming majority of claimants for the £92 million per-year benefit system, which is paid out to those unable to work, or those who are looking for work or in low-paid jobs.

Figures released to Bailiwick Express under the Freedom of Information Law show that the number of claims (which represent households, not individuals) at the end of last year was 6,491 – that accounts for 15% of all households in the Island.

Although the number has risen since 2010, it has dropped 2% since the high point of 6,636 in 2012.

The numbers also show that the proportion of claimants from Jersey/Britain has dipped from 87% in 2010 to 82% last year, while the proportion of Polish claimants has risen from 1% to 4% over the same period.

Last month, a new crackdown was launched to make claimants on long-term sickness benefits being told to try harder to find work if they want to keep their Income Support payments.

Social Security Minister Susie Pinel says that she wants to make sure that living on benefits does not become “a lifestyle choice” for some Islanders, and says that there will be financial sanctions against some claimants if they don’t comply with the new rules.