Review rules out benefits overlap for pensioner carers

Pensioner carers in Jersey will remain unable to claim the the full Home Carers Allowance benefit as well, following a review of the support available.

The government has ruled out a change to overlapping benefits following a two-month long review of the system, services and support.

Islanders can only claim one working age contributory benefit at a time from the contributions they have paid and then receive an old-age pension when they reach pension age.

The review was prompted when islander Mark Jones (69), who cares for his two adult disabled children, went public last October with his struggles not receiving his state pension because he is on carers' benefit. 

The review has found changing the system to allow people to claim both the full HCA and full pension would come at a 'significant' increased cost to the public purse, and would likely mean social security contributions would have to rise.

Social Security Minister Deputy Lyndsay Feltham says it would also change a fundamental principle of the Social Security system.

"It would also not benefit carers of working age, would not target financial support where it is needed most, and is not the type of support that carers have been asking for more generally.

"Home Carers Allowance is unique in the Jersey system in allowing a pensioner who does not have a full contribution record to “top up” their pension amount by maintaining their HCA claim after pension age.

"Requests to override the “overlapping benefits” rule and expand the current concession so that a pensioner carer could receive a full HCA amount in addition to their old age pension amount have been fully considered. "

The exact number of pensioners who are carers isn't known, but it is believed there are thousands among the island's 20,000 pensioners.

The government says overlapping benefits would cost an extra £7.5 million for every 500 pensioner carers, a cost that would only increase because of the island's ageing population.

Deputy Feltham says a good level of financial support is available, but the review found gaps in practical support.

She has announced changes, including allowing direct-to-claimant Long Term Care payments for people who would rather manage their own finances, more flexibility with care package so parts can be paid directly to meet specific costs, and better, more tailored advice.

A dedicated advisor for carers will be provided from 23 February.

Deputy Feltham says she does have concerns about respite offerings in the island, something she says cannot be addressed before the end of this political term.

She says the issue came up consistently over the course of the review.

"I ask my successor to listen to carers and to work across government to ensure that we develop the respite facilities that the island needs."