The States are asked to decide:
Whether, after consideration of the Policy Letter entitled ‘Non-contributory Benefit Rates for 2027’, dated 6th October 2026, they are of the opinion:
- To set the income support requirement rates at the rates set out in Tables 1 and 2 of the Policy Letter, from 8th January 2027.
2. To set the income support limits of weekly income for people residing in residential homes, nursing homes, EMI (dementia care) accommodation, and the Guernsey Cheshire Home at the rates set out in Table 3 of the Policy Letter, from 8th January 2027.
3. To set the personal allowances payable to persons in Guernsey and Alderney residential or nursing homes who are in receipt of income support and to persons in United Kingdom hospitals or care homes who are in receipt of income support at the amounts set out in Table 4 of the Policy Letter, from 8th January 2027.
4. To set the maximum rent allowances, for income support purposes, at the amounts set out in Table 5 of the Policy Letter, from 8th January 2027.
5. To set the supplementary fuel allowance at £50.48 per week, from 30th October 2026 to 29th April 2027.
6. To set the rate of family allowance at £19.20 per child, per week, from 4th January 2027.
7. To set the rates and annual income limit for severe disability benefit and carer’s allowance at the rates and limit set out in Table 7 of the Policy Letter, from 4th January 2027.
8. To amend the Severe Disability Benefit and Carer’s Allowance (Guernsey) Law, 1984 to provide that severe disability benefit and carer’s allowance may be backdated for a period of up to 12 months before the date on which the claim was made, provided that there was good cause for the delay.
9. To amend the First Schedule to the Income Support (Implementation) Ordinance, 1971 to:
a) allow payments made under any health compensation or incentivisation scheme approved by the Committee to be disregarded when assessing a person’s resources for income support purposes, as set out in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.5 of the Policy Letter;
b) clarify that the phrase in Paragraph 18 “to secure income support” includes obtaining or maintaining an income support claim, as set out in paragraph 8.9 of the Policy Letter; and
c) clarify that in Paragraph 18, regarding “resources abandoned”, those resources include the cash value lost when a resource is sold, given away, or otherwise disposed of for less than its market value, as set out in paragraph 8.10 of the Policy Letter.
10. To set the payment tariffs under the Mesothelioma Compensation Scheme at the rates set out in Appendix 3 of the Policy Letter, from 1st January 2027.
11. To direct the preparation of such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above decisions.