The States are asked to decide:
Whether, after consideration of the Policy Letter entitled ‘Non-contributory Benefit Rates for 2024’, dated 9th October 2023, they are of the opinion:
1. To set the income support requirement rates at the rates set out in Tables 1 and 2 of the Policy Letter, from 5th January 2024.
2. To set the income support limits of weekly income for people residing in residential homes, nursing homes, EMI (dementia care) accommodation, and the Guernsey Cheshire Home at the rates set out in Table 3 of the Policy Letter, from 5th January 2024.
3. To set the income support carer’s allowance disregard at £50 per week, subject to first making necessary administrative changes, as detailed in paragraphs 2.19 to 2.21 of the Policy Letter.
4. To set the personal allowances payable to persons in Guernsey and Alderney residential or nursing homes who are in receipt of income support and to persons in United Kingdom hospitals or care homes who are in receipt of income support at the amounts set out in Table 4 of the Policy Letter, from 5th January 2024.
5. To set the maximum rent allowances, for income support purposes, at the amounts set out in Table 5 of the Policy Letter, from 5th January 2024.
6. To set the supplementary fuel allowance at £36.28 per week, from 27th October 2023 to 25th April 2024.
7. To note that a person in receipt of income support who is a single parent or the member of a couple that is primarily responsible for childcare will be expected to work part-time (a minimum of 20 hours per week) from the point at which their youngest child turns three (previously five) with effect from 1st September 2024.
8. To set the rate of family allowance at £16.90 per week, from 1st January 2024.
9. To set the rates and annual income limit for severe disability benefit and carer’s allowance at the rates and limit set out in Table 6 of the Policy Letter, from 1st January 2024.
10. To set the payment tariffs under the Mesothelioma Compensation Scheme at the rates set out in Table 10 in the Appendix to the Policy Letter, from 1st January 2024.
11. To direct the preparation of such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above decisions.
