Benefits scheme 'needs changes'

More than 30 changes should be made to Jersey's income support scheme, according to a scrutiny panel report.

Deputy Geoff Southern, the chairman of the reviewing panel, said the scheme was bureaucratic and difficult for both staff and islanders to understand.

He added that a policy which stops people claiming benefits until they have lived in Jersey for five years also needed to be reviewed.

The income support scheme was introduced in January 2008.

Deputy Southern criticised the fact some families had faced financial hardship since the previous family allowance scheme was scrapped.

'Mammoth task'

Under family allowance people could apply for the benefit if they had only lived on the island for a year, as opposed to the current five-year rule.

Social Security Minister Ian Gorst said his department knew changes and improvements would be needed because it was a new system.

He said: "It is working, but it was also known from the start that there would need to be refinements and changes and improvements to incentives.

"It was 14 benefits into one and it was always going to be a mammoth task."

The income support scheme was designed to replace the parish welfare system.