Taxpayer to Fund £5.7m of Winter Support

People at higher risk of fuel and food price rises this winter will receive the first of two further financial assistance payments from the taxpayer totalling £5.7m within the next few weeks.

Energy Support Payments worth £300 each will be paid to people who receive an income-related benefit, such as income support or employed person’s allowance, and who are responsible for paying housing costs or can be treated as such.

The total cost of these two further rounds of payments is estimated to be just over £2 million, and will benefit up to 3,500 households.

Family Support Payments worth up to £400 each, depending on family size, will be paid to people who receive child benefit. Payments will be made to qualifying individuals in November and again in late December or early January. The exact payment date will depend on how they’re paid child benefit.

This measure will reach more than 6,000 families, and the total cost of these two further rounds of payments will be around £3.7 million.

Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson said: ‘With household expenditure expected to come under pressure this winter, I hope this further tranche of support payments later this month will help individuals and families budget effectively.

‘These payments represent a commitment by the Isle of Man Government to assist those most affected by the increased cost of living through a period of global economic turbulence and rising fuel and energy prices. Treasury is carrying out further work on supporting other members of our society such as pensioners and those on low incomes.’