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L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Covid-19: Confirmation of Benefit Adaptions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

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  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made on 13 May 2020

Decision Reference:  MD-S-2020-0027

Decision Summary Title :

DS – Covid 19 Confirmation of Benefit Adaptations

Date of Decision Summary:

30/04/20

Decision Summary Author:

Senior Policy Officer

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

WR – Covid 19 Confirmation of Benefit Adaptations

Date of Written Report:

30/04/20

Written Report Author:

Senior Policy Officer

Written Report:

Public or Exempt?

 

Public

Subject: Confirmation of Benefit adaptations to Long Term Incapacity Allowance, Invalidity Benefit, the STIA Temporary Scheme, Death Grant and the temporary Income Support exceptional payments scheme.

Decision(s): The Minister is confirming that administrative changes were made on the following dates to several benefits, as described below:

1)      LTIA – change effective from 23/03/20

a)      All existing claims to LTIA that have a scheduled review are to have the review period of their claim extended.

b)      All new claims to LTIA that have not yet been assessed by the medical board are to be opened and paid at 100% of the standard rate of benefit.

Relevant review dates for a) and b) above will be established by determining officers based on advice from the Medical Officer of Health and the situation of the Covid 19 emergency.

2)      Invalidity Benefit – change effective from 23/03/20

All claimants to invalidity benefit are to have the period covered by their existing medical certificate issued by their medical practitioner extended.

 

3)      Short Term Incapacity Benefit – Temporary Scheme – changes effective 27/03/20-30/03/20

 

A separate scheme has already been established for STIA claimants via MD-S-2020-0010 and became effective 12 February 2020.  Following updated public health advice on the 27th and 30th March, given in light of the prevailing situation of the covid pandemic; the eligibility criteria for this scheme have been slightly adapted.

 

4)      The Death Grant – change effective from 07/04/20

Payment of the grant to be made directly to Funeral Directors.

5)      Temporary Application Scheme for Short Term Incapacity Allowance following Government Advice to Self-Isolate – to pay equivalent amount as an Income Support Special Payment. Scheme previously established via MD-S-2020-0017 (23/03/20) - change effective from 28/03/20

Increase the value of exceptional Income Support payments from 14 to 21 days of STIA

Reason(s) for Decision: The changes to LTIA and Invalidity benefit were to prevent customer having to visit either CLS or their medical practitioner (note, this has already been established under a separate scheme for STIA claimants). Changes to the STIA scheme were made in light of public health advice. The change to the death grant was to improve payment efficiency. The change to the maximum value of exceptional payments was to align with medical advice around household isolation issued by the Medical Officer of Health.

 

Resource Implications: The projected upper limit of costs for deferring medical boards, and allowing LTIA to continue to pay at 100% standard benefit, assuming that no claims are reviewed, is as follows:

 

  • £70,000 by the end of June 2020
  • £370,000 by the end of August 2020
  • £1,000,000 by the end of December 2020.

There will be corresponding reductions in income support costs in respect of an estimated one third of these claims, reducing the net additional cost by approximately one-third.

 

There are no other resource implications to these changes.

Action required: Senior Policy Officer to advise CLS Group Director of Customer Operations that the Ministerial Decision confirming these changes has been signed.

Signature:

 

 

 

Position:

Minister for Social Security

 

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

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