Five-year barrier for social help

Eddie Teare says he is protecting taxpayers' cash

Manx residents must have lived on the island for more than five years to be eligible for help from the social services, a politician has proposed.

Health Minister Eddie Teare said it was about spending money on taxpayers on the Isle of Man.

A consultation exercise has finished into proposed changes to services provided by the Department of Health and Social Security.

He said it was "the clearest way, the fairest way and and easiest way".

He added: "We are trying to do it to protect the taxpayers' money.

"If somebody was a Manx worker, then they could access social services, but if they weren't then, unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to do so."

The department is still discussing which laws need to be changed and it is one of several proposals, a government spokesman said.