Fears tenants refusing work over risk of losing benefits

During debate on annual adjustments to non-contributory benefits yesterday, Employment & Social Security president Peter Roffey batted back a series of claims from deputies that benefit recipients were working the system, but he acknowledged that some islanders in government-funded accommodation were being discouraged from pursuing economic advancement.

‘Our experience is that if people can get a promotion and actually get the same amount of money through work rather than benefits, 99% of them want to do it,’ he said.

‘The real issue comes with people who live in social housing and are really worried that they will lose their tenancy if they take a promotion or take on more work.

‘We’ve looked at that and we’ll be announcing in the next couple of days measures to overcome that.’

The 12 propositions were all carried unanimously at the end of the debate, with the exception of number two, which was carried with objections from Deputies David De Lisle and John Dyke. This set the limit for the total benefits that could be accrued by one person at £930 per week from 7 January.

Deputy De Lisle drew attention to the increase in the total income support budget from £31m. in 2018 to £47m. in 2021 – an increase of 50% over three years.

‘The amalgamation of supplementary benefit and the rent rebate scheme into one income support has left families charged social housing rents at near full market rates,’ he said, ‘and in one swoop in 2019/20, put 900 more families on supplementary benefit and to be placed on welfare is not everybody’s cup of tea.’

Deputy Dyke said that some people in receipt of benefits who were required to be looking for work were not doing so and that their benefits were not being stopped accordingly due to concerns about the harm that could be done to their children.

‘So we’ve got some real issues here, that need sorting out,’ he said.

‘The more you put people in the situation of having to choose whether to work or stick on welfare because they’re better off on welfare, you put them in such a position that they make choices that ultimately destroy their lives. They become people with no responsibility, with no hope and no nothing because they’re trapped by a system that makes them worse off for working.’

Deputy Peter Ferbrache said most people on benefits did not want to be, but there was ‘an element that want to be on benefit because it’s easier to sit watching the telly every day than it is going out to work.’

Deputy Roffey said people on benefits wanted to work but that staff at ESS were keenly aware of how to deal with any individuals who were ‘cocking a snoop’ at the system.