St Helier Deputy Geoff Southern has lodged a proposition calling for the bonus to be re-introduced next year so that it ‘better targets those who need it’.
The Medium Term Financial Plan, which was approved by politicians last month, made a series of welfare cuts as part of plans to plug a predicted £145 million financial shortfall by 2019. Among the cuts was the cancellation of the Christmas bonus, which currently stands at £83.73 and is paid to all pensioners.
Deputy Southern’s proposition calls for the bonus to be increased to £85 and paid to around 7,000 over-65s who fall below the income tax threshold.
He says that by means-testing the Christmas bonus, the Social Security Department would still save around £1 million from its budget.
In the report accompanying his proposition, Deputy Southern says: ‘This proposition seeks to restore the Christmas bonus but to means-test it so that it better targets those who most need it to cope with the additional costs involved.
‘Restricting the bonus only to those who are in receipt of an Income Support award seems to me to draw the boundary too tightly, as this would mean that the bonus only reaches some 2,000 of 17,000 pensioners.
‘Better to use the marker we already use for means-testing of the GST/Food bonus, and that which applies to free TV licences, and limit the bonus to those pensioners whose income is below the income tax threshold.’
He adds: ‘I am reliably informed that there are some 7,000 over-65s resident on the Island who are not liable for income tax. The cost of this scheme will therefore be £600,000, a saving of £1 million on the cost of the previous scheme.’
The Reform Jersey Deputy said that if the money could not be found within the departmental budget then the Treasury Minister should meet the cost of the 2016 bonus using central reserves.
At a Town Hall meeting earlier this month Deputy Southern said that he was preparing to lodge a vote of no confidence in Social Security Minister Susie Pinel as a result of the cuts.
The proposition is due to be debated on 15 December.
Megan Kate Freemantle
It’s not right. All most of these people have are there tv channels and now they’re going to have to pay just to have something to do over the holidays. It’s wrong, it’s unfair and they don’t get enough of a pension to afford it. They’re going to be so lonely over such a big occasion. the states members should look at their pockets and to cut down money spent.
John Ttokkallos
This is unfair to the OAP and not necessary No fine another way why should it be OAP’S.
Jude Tanguy
Don’t target the pensioners, for so many the TV is their lifeline. I don’t know how you guys can sleep at night. You our government, cut your salaries for which half of you don’t earn what your paid, that would pay for the TV licences. Your wonderful dinner paid by the tax payers recently could have paid the bill. Start getting your act together. You’re all an utter disgrace.
Alan Paul Hansford
APPALLING!!! No need to take it out on the elderly!
Dave Dapper Crocker
I assume all unnecessary expenses like the governors seven staff can be trimmed, no more meals out or free thank you meals as were all in this together so let the people benefiting from zero ten stand shoulder to shoulder with me and share the burden!
Stuart Hornby
This is appalling, our politicians may call it a black hole but I am afraid it is overspending without any thought for the future. I am not a full OAP yet but am close and don’t see why the OAPs should suffer. We need to cut back on overpaid civil servants and go back to unpaid politicians. There were never issues like this when we had people in power who knew what they were doing.
Joyce Ann Curtin
Yes target the weakest. I am sure there are thousands of other ways where money could be saved without resorting to robbing the pensioners. The easiest targets once more.
Paul Blampied
The TV licence is a tax paid to a foreign government agency. No one in Jersey should have to pay it. It’s only payable because our week willed States agreed. For god sake stand up to the BBC/ UK and amend this illegal tax law scrap the requirement for TV licences.
Joy Langdon
