What About the JAM?

After our Jean-jee red ennagh series, where our readers told us their thoughts and concerns of the cost of living crisis, we asked the same readers for their response to the gov’s support package.

This response came from a single person with a mortgage.

First of all I have no problem with people receiving help when they need it however once again our MHKs have given no thought to how much people actually pay out each month on their living expenses.

A single person can be paying a higher proportion of their income out on mortgage/ rates (no single person reduction on the island), bills, building and household maintenance/transport to and from work etc than some of the people who fall into a category for receiving help. 

People can be on the same salary but maybe live in a commissioners property paying less rent, no rates and no maintenance but have a child at home so are eligible forhelp, I personally know people in this situation who have a lot more disposable income than myself and are able to enjoy regular weekends out. 

There are couples who run their own business and also have a second guaranteed income  coming in each month, they have a child at home so receive help no matter how much money they have coming into their household. 

Meanwhile single people and couples who have no children, middle income earners paying a mortgage etc seem to have been forgotten about, the government’s answer to these people seems to be turn your thermostat down and put on another jumper.

These people can’t afford to go out and do the nice things anymore so are spending more of their free time in their homes and are concerned that come the autumn they can’t put their heating on due to rising costs. 

Just because people work full time and don’t have children living at home doesn’t mean we have unlimited wages to fund the rising cost of living.