But the Committee for Employment & Social Security has also warned that a 5% increase in prices could result in more of the ‘top- up’ being paid to claimants and even more people being eligible for support.
Ultimately the committee has told Deputy Simon Vermeulen, who asked several questions of it in relation to income support, that current modelling has suggested a minimal change in income support claims.
It has also said that it is looking at a number of savings initiatives to address a £52m. spend on income support in 2025.
The figure was £50.5m. in 2024 and £46.9m. the year before.
Income support is an in-work benefit supporting those whose wages or earning potential is insufficient to meet their or their family’s needs.
All claimants must be in full-time work or assessed in relation to ‘work requirements’ and pensioners make up the biggest single group at more than a quarter of all claimants, followed by the incapacitated and those who meet the work requirement assessment.
Together they make up three-quarters of all the 3,200 claimants each year.
ESS is currently reviewing entitlement to family allowance and a review of wider benefit criteria in a bid to save money, however it said it would need to balance the interests of taxpayers with those of benefit recipients.
It said it had also identified a number of short- and long-term savings ideas, some of which had been implemented and some which had not.
‘Many of the ideas would involve a lot of work to investigate,' it said.
‘Importantly, the committee considers it imperative to highlight that it is not always necessary to cut services in order to make savings.
‘Where possible, the committee is committed to giving priority to strategic investments in social support which accord our purpose “to foster a compassionate, cohesive and aspirational society in which responsibility is encouraged and individuals and families are supported through schemes of social protection” and emphasise ways in which long-term cost savings can be made by adopting good practices and taking preventive measures which can reduce reliance on benefit schemes.
‘The committee is acutely aware that it must find ways to make savings while continuing to provide crucial benefit payments to some of the Bailiwick’s most vulnerable households.’