New benefits under attack
Friday 10th July 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Deputy Geoff Southern
A DAMNING Scrutiny report on the income support system has called for urgent reform.
The report, by the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny sub-panel, has identified failings in the system that it says require immediate action.
The report, which contains more than 30 recommendations and was compiled by a sub-panel chaired by Deputy Geoff Southern, describes income support as ‘bureaucratic’ and difficult for clients and staff to understand.
Deputy Southern, a long-time critic of the new benefits system, said it was ‘more of a hand out than a hand up’.
However, Social Security Minister Ian Gorst said that although there were some ‘very interesting’ points in the report, many of the findings were based on ‘misinformation’. He said that the system was still being bedded down and that it was recognised that revisions were required in some areas.
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I didn’t know we had a social security system, I thought it was work or leave.
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For the likes of you and me it is Lord Lucan.
By the way, did you know your lawn back in the UK is 6′ high with weeds?
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The current system seems to be a breeding ground for professional scroungers, leaving those truely in need of support out in the cold.
I fully support the ethos of a benefit system, provided it does not become a “reward” system – cease rewarding those people who choose not to work and contribute to our island, and start benefiting those who are unable to work or due to a change in circumstance find themselves in need of help.
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so what does a single parent get ? dont forget the free 2 bed flat ,oh and the nice car they drive as they have plenty money or so it would seem
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well strike me down. Geoff Southern has actually done one thing useful in his politacal life.
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Social Security stinks.
My fiancee and I have always worked and paid 10′s of thousand of pounds over the years between us in Social Security.
She has now been made redundant and has no income but they expect her to still pay 6% social even though she isn’t entitled to support because I am still in work. They have done us a “favour” by waiving 3 months!!
Our bills now far exceed my income but they say there is nothing they can do!!
Yet bone idle scroungers get it handed on a plate.
This island is an absolute disgrace.
BTW….I am local.
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Don’t even get me started on the joke that is the benefits system here.
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Way to go Geoff Southern… possibly the best description of any kind of benefits system I’ve ever heard.
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‘Yes I went to see another recruitment agency’
‘Here’s £90′
‘Thanks, see you next week’
That’s how you get ‘income support’ in Jersey. Oh and if you want to have a laugh go in there and ask for jobseekers allowance. For some reason it pushes a button they don’t like. Apparently that’s what its called in the UK and they don’t call it that here.
Maybe because we want to differentiate our mis-managed discriminating support setup from the fairer system in the UK.
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Of course the alternative is that we could all just get a job…
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trev, do you know what the jobseekers allowance is called? it may help the new unemployed, claim quicker.
bs deluxe, sorry to hear of your predicament.
your wife should be allowed to claim u credits.
(if they still exist)these goto your social security,so she should not get a bill. but will have to register as unemployed every week.
try asking for a leaflet regarding about what benifits a unemployed person is entitled to.
also your wife has time to go to citizens advice.hope your partner finds work soon
you are not alone in this island of greed.
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2 James – yes sorry about that, I’m in exile and the gardener hasn’t been paid since 1974.
BS Deluxe – Genuinely sorry to hear your situation, I was long term unemployed before I came to Jersey and although I did recieve beneift the situation was much the same. I would spend entire mornings queueing at Social Security while the drunks and druggies walked straight in and picked up their cheques.
If we are to have a system it must be based on need and we must stop encouraging people to be benefit whores. If you give someone a free home and make it a bigger one if they have more kids they are never going to work or contribute to the system. It’s a finite resourse and should exist for those in need, not those who choose to place themselves within the entitlement criteria.
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Just get yourself a heroin habit.
Once suitably addicted, you will never have to work again.
You will then be given a free flat, free utilities cash every Friday and as much time down the pub as you can handle.
People that work and fall on hard / difficult times are turned away from Social due to wealthy parents or partners or whatever the perrson you see decides is an acceptable reason that day. there seems to be two levels of support over here. One for the lazy, pregnant locals / imigrants who all seem to know ” what they’re entitled to ” and the other for people who work and contriute and get naff all.
This island is a joke.
Income Support needs changing, but didn’t we just do this last year ! ? !
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‘Maybe because we want to differentiate our mis-managed discriminating support setup from the fairer system in the UK.’
HA, HA. The UK system is a joke. It encourages people to sit on their backsides and get paid money for doing nothing. People actively play the system to get as many benefits as they can, get free housing and all for lying around watching TV or going to the pub.
It also encourages illegal immigrants to come to Britain as they believe they will be given a free house and free money for just turning up in a truck. Knowing how xenophobic Jersey people can be to people from the UK who are here ‘taking their jobs’ you definetly don’t want immigrants from outside Europe targeting the island as somewhere where they can have an easy life.
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Thanks David
I was so livid I was even considering taking this to the European Courts.
We pay Social Security for all those who need it yet the states hand it out to all and sundry. When hard working, tax paying, law abiding citizens like my fiancee need support temporarily because the employemnt market is in trouble then we are ignored.
They discriminate against us because we don’t have kids and it is a disgrace!
I for one am sick and tired of not being a burden to society because it seems those that are get rewarded for it!
It is embarassing the way this island is run.
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The worst thing is we know others who have benefitted undeservingly.
I know of a non-local couple returned with their young children after almost 10 years away. Within 2 months were given their “quallies” back and income support plus additional benefits to buy “white goods” for their new house.
They were actually told by Social Security that they would be better off with their benefits if neither of them had a job. In other words they were encouraging them to become scroungers.
I have now seen it first hand that the local, Jersey person is being discriminated against in their own island.
Disgusting!
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Why on earth should somebody that has not been in the Island for 5 years have access to tax payer hand outs? I am starting to think the JDA are living in another universe. The whole idea of the system is to stop abuse, therefore it should be kept as it is.
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Why on earth should somebody that has not been in the Island for 5 years have access to tax payer hand outs? I am starting to think the JDA are living in another universe. The whole idea of the system is to stop abuse, therefore it should be kept as it is.
are you for real i lost my job in march and cant n find another one that can pay for my son for nursery and have money left over to pay house bills i do not get ay thing and living well below the poverty line with not help from the states even my wife doesnt get anything where in human right is that fair
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Alan
It is clearly not working and is already being abused. Undeservers receive their weekly handouts already and then when those that have actually contributed to the coffers require support there is none.
I agree with hmmmmmmm.
It doesn’t matter how long you have been here (within reason) if you have contributed then you are entitled to receive support when needed as far as I am concerned.
It is our money we have paid into Social Security, taxes etc so why can’t we benefit from our contributions when we fall on hard times.
I am local BTW.
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theyshould sort out the politicians on £45k a year yet still in states rental accomodation. then they can sort out the benefits for the rest of those who need them
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What happened to the 5 year Regulation of Undertakings Law? If people have not been here for 5 years and lose their jobs they should go back to where they came from. Jersey in an Island not a charity. They could never have contributed much over that time anyway and so what right has Geoff Southern got to demand such a ridiculous idea? All the JDA want to do is spend tax payers money and when they get their silly ideas voted out they throw toys.
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The Social Security Minister has a duty to protect the contributions made by Islanders and therefore MUST maintain the 5 year qualification period. Despite Deputy Southern’s denials ALL European nations ARE now setting 5 years periods as they recognise the danger of benefit led migration. Jersey with only a few thousand contributors and despite the assertions of many, a very attractive location, would be quickly swamped by claimants who once the pot was empty move on to the next location. Islanders must remember that this is their pension monies that Deputy Southern wants to give away. Whilst I understand peoples reluctance to vote at elections they need to start understanding that their pensions, property and lively hoods are at stake should these radical socialist policies ever be implemented.
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Jersey is a wealthy island on paper but can not afford to be used by people wanting to get on the benefit system by having children on arrival to the island, I pay a large tax per year for locals and myself not for scroungers, thats what ruined germanys, frances and the uks social security system! it doesn’t work regarding the hand out culture we are growing. yes things need to be looked at but for the benefit of local islanders in real need. In the end it costs us the tax payer.
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James also Ireland,many were arriving pregnant to ensure they get their benifits for life.we seen it years ago,all begging in the streets of dublin.we were told to ignore these beggars as the locals were fuming because they were getting 80 euros more benifits for socialising.
A few weeks ago belfast was accused of racism as they drove these beggars and thieves away.they said it was,nt racism these gipsy,s from romania were nicking their clothes off lines breaking into houses and had no intensions of getting a job.
they said the polish were hard-working and were welcome,so how can that be racism as they led us to believe?
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The Jersey benifit system is an absolute disgrace. I am a mother in my 20′s with a 2 year old son and a long term partner, I began full time work the day after receiving my A level results and have always paid social security and tax. When I fell pregnant myself and my partner were not on great salaries as we were both fairly new to the finance industry so given childcare fees, rent, tax and social etc my wages would mean going to work was a waste of time as my outgoings were more than my wages. However I was told I was not entitled to a penny from social as my partner was on more than £14,000 per year (I must stress that he was not earning much more!). I then decided to apply for housing as we were bairly able to survive after rent etc on one wage. To this I received a letter back saying as I was already in privatly rented accomodation I was not priority and therefore would not be homed. 2 1/2 years down the line after much struggle we are back on our feet again both working very hard in full time employment and enjoying quality weekend time with our son. I then find out that a friend of mine has just fot a job in the States of Jersey, is earning £40k+ and as she is a single parent has been given a beautiful 2 bed sates flat for £500per month. She is not the only one, I drive past a states housing estate to get home each eveing after working hard to see parents sunning thenslves in the garden and kids playing in the estate park with 4×4 BMW’s parked outside there homes.
It makes me sick.
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I am on Income Support, work part time and I am happy with the extra bit of support I get towards the cost of my childcare and rent. I do not expect it to be a given right to be given taxpayers money to support my child and me. It is my responsibly work and provide for my child and the help is really appreciated, until a time I can fully support myself. I feel that perhaps the press should be less bias, and focus on cases where the Income Support System is working . As for Geoff Southern yet more hot air which I believe does more harm than good.
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#9 Trev… is there a ‘UK’ other than the one I lived in for decades?
In the UK you get pregnant to get a house, then you get money just for having said child and even help with childcare costs. You apply for a job here and there, but ensure your CV is rubbish enough (if it isn’t anyway) that you never get offered a job and you can happily claim the dole. This allows you to get free prescriptions (inc. methadone), and discounts on everything from travel to entertainment (I kid you not). Were it not for their having of self-respect it has become a sorely tempting proposition for many normal, hard-working, UK citizens.
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Basically, it all comes down to your definition of poverty. I would say that if someone can afford satellite TV and has a flash car they can get to the back of the queue. Jet-skis, more than 2 kids, smokers, people who drink in pubs, mobile phones, holidays abroad, all perfectly acceptable if they can afford it. But they are all lifestyle decisions that the state should not fund.
And this funding drives up prices and the population. Any policy should encourage environmental sustainability. Benefits should drop for people with more than either 1 or 2 kids (can make a case either way). And if people want Sky, cut the amount of their handout by the amount of their subscription.
But let’s keep it real.
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I think that as usual the politicians are tinkering around the edges and getting publicity but not sorting out the real issues – back to basics:-
On entering the Island – when you register at SS (I hope it has changed) but over 10 years ago you were not asked for your passport details the ID asked for could have easily been fabricated or forged. SS informed people that they don’t talk to Tax!
No regular census is done so no-one really knows how big the population is, who actually lives on the Island, are they who they say they are? They seems systemic in the society when they have trouble keeping a secx offenders register and are just not too sure about anything.
We need to know who is on the Island not in a big brother kind of way but so the states can hopefully have some kind of real strategic planning and work out their budgets.
It is not just SS handouts we have to worry about people who manage to be self employed or be a carer or family member outside of the system will at some point use the Island’s services in all its forms, hospitals, refuse collection, parks, police etc.
Nothing is computerised in a joined up way so there are many loopholes for people to get around. It is a time bomb waiting to happen.
Picking up on another point I find it farcial when you see the so called social housing estates for “those less fortunate” who have the biggest and best cars, cable, the big TVs etc etc and hard working middle Jersey who actually do pay their taxes always get penalised when they are the ones who actually fund the system. 50% of WORKING jersey pay no income tax or less that 4% of their income in income tax and people wonde why GST was introduced agian not tackling the central issue just tinkering around the edges.
But as one other commenter stated work for the states and it is a fast track to getting social housing, plus the pension time bomb that is ticking which will impact on many future islanders.
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Q
There are too many people playing the system as well, but as I stated in an earlier post SS are contributing to the problem too.
I heard it first hand from some people I know who returned to Jersey after almost 10 years away and SS told them they were better off (benefit-wise) if neither of them worked! This is a disgrace!!
…especially as so many local residents who have contributed heavily through taxes and SS are not afforded any support at all when they hit hard times.
This is an extremely unfair and discriminatory system which needs to be addressed urgently.
I’m sure in this day and age where people can sue for anything the States may need to be weary and ensure the system is fair for everyone and not abused by the workshy!
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