From Kim Hanson.
I WAS not surprised to read the news focus (JEP, 27 August) regarding Lucy Hillyer. A very honest account from Lucy regarding income support.

It is no secret that if you live in a States home, are unemployed and perhaps have children, then the States, by way of income support, make you financially better off than if you were at work.

Lucy hits the nail on the head by saying: ‘The Island’s benefits system makes handouts to the unemployed with no income, before it supports those in work who want to find a way out of a financial hole.’

It is no wonder that, with all those handouts, people like Stephen Coleman are unable to get sickness benefit after an accident which made him unable to work due to missing a quarterly return after many years of paying social security.

If Social Security (the States) were to review their current policies and give people an incentive to work, then perhaps there would be more money in the pot to help others, such as better maternity pay.

I think £164 for 12 weeks after your baby is born is a joke. I assume from that they expect mothers to return to work when their baby is only 12 weeks old, or do they believe we can stay at home and live on fresh air with an extra mouth to feed bearing in mind that most of us have no family help on the Island?

I challenge any States Member to live off only £164 per week for 12 weeks and then live off no income, pay their mortgage/rent and all other outgoings. I think we can safely say it’s impossible. Perhaps if they brought in paid maternity leave we would not be relying on Social Security for £164 per week for 12 weeks and there would even be more money in the pot.

It seems that the current system is encouraging us to sell our homes, blow the profit (if you make any after settling your debts), jack in your job, apply for a States house or flat and therefore be entitled to income support and be financially better off – not that I would recommend it.

Now, people like Lucy have no alternative but to give up their jobs, therefore being penalised for working and encouraged to go on income support because they will be better off. This is well and truly wrong. There should be better options for those who wish to return to work and equal options for those who wish to stay at home to either bring up a family or look after the elderly or the like.
Roscrea Cottage,
Rue de l’Eglise,
St John.