Many people who could receive income support still don’t realise they’re eligible, the Social Security Minister has said – adding that it would take “myth-busting” to tackle the misconceptions that are to blame.
Deputy Lyndsay Feltham told Bailiwick Podcasts that “working people” are among the hardest to reach.
“People assume very, very often, ‘I’m working, so therefore I’m not going to be eligible,’” she explained.
“Also, [there are] people who have applied in the past and been ineligible, and then maybe had a change in circumstances that has tipped them into the income support bracket.”
Pensioners are another key group who often miss out, the Minister said.
“Very often we read online that you can’t survive on the state pension alone – but nobody on this island should be surviving on the state pension alone,” explained Deputy Feltham.
“I want to make that clear: if somebody’s only single source of income is the state pension and they’re not currently getting income support, they should be coming into the department and checking their eligibility.”
She recounted a recent example from her constituency surgery when a pensioner believed they were ineligible for income support because they owned their home.
After the Minister encouraged them to check, they returned the following week to say they were now receiving payments.
“That kind of story just shows where misunderstandings come around,” said Deputy Feltham.
To address this, her department is preparing a new communications push aimed at both older residents and younger, online audiences – from leaflets to social media – to encourage people to check whether they qualify for income support.
The Minister stressed the message she wanted to get across: “It’s an entitlement. It’s not a handout.”
LISTEN…
You can listen to the full podcast episode to hear how the department plans to reach overlooked groups and why the Minister believes tackling these myths is essential…