THE government has launched its 2023 Community Costs Bonus scheme earlier to give lower-income Islanders help with rising costs ‘as soon as possible’.
The one-off bonus – which will remain at £516.50 for another year – will be available to the hardest-hit Islanders from today.
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar said she was ‘committed’ to ‘supporting lower-income Islanders and continuing to give them the additional help they need with the rising costs of living’.
She added: ‘The bonus is normally paid in the autumn, but this year I have brought the date forward to July to help families as soon as possible.’
Last year, when the scheme opened in September, the bonus was doubled from £258.25 to recognise the increase in the cost of living. Given the ongoing inflationary pressures, the Social Security Minister said she had ‘decided to maintain this additional support for the 2023 payment’.
She added: ‘We were able to help over 4,000 households through the 2022 payment and I hope we can repeat that this year.’
The eligibility criteria also remain the same.
Islanders can apply for the payment if their combined household tax bill was less than £2,735 in 2022, the household is not receiving income support, and one adult has lived in Jersey for at least five years.
However, the process can only be completed once all members of the household have filed their 2022 tax returns and received their tax assessment.
Islanders can apply by visiting gov.je/CCB, by calling 444444 or visiting Customer and Local Services at La Motte Street.
