Welfare reform proposals are questioned at meetings
A TOTAL of about 80 people attended meetings at Beau Sejour yesterday to ask questions on proposals for benefit reform.
The States will debate the Social Welfare Benefits Investigation Committee's policy letter next month.
If approved, the rent rebate scheme, currently administered by the Housing Department, and supplementary benefit, managed by Social Security, will be replaced by a single Income Support Scheme.
Christina Le Jean, 65, was among those asking questions. 'I'm betwixt and between at the moment because they can't give definite figures,' she said after the meeting.
'I accept that it needs to be done, but if I had figures showing what I would lose and what I would gain it would be clearer.'
Derek Solway, 80, lives in social housing.
'I can understand the need for everything to be in the one place but I can't understand why they want to change everything at once,' he said.
'When they abolish the rent rebate scheme I'll have to find another £37 per month and I'll be able to afford it, but what about those people who can't?'
