Family allowance could be reviewed under plans

An allowance given to families and their eligibility for other benefits could be reviewed as a Guernsey committee looks for savings.

Family allowance is a £18.40 weekly, tax-free benefit for families bringing up children, provided their gross household income is below £125,000 a year.

In its three-year work plan, the Employment and Social Security Committee said changes to family allowance could free up money to reinvest in services and support for children and families.

It said limited resources meant it had to make difficult decisions about its priorities, while its work plan acknowledged not everything was expected to be completed during the current political term.

It said the impact on vulnerable households would be assessed before any changes were proposed.

The work plan prioritises proposals for shared parental leave and a legal right to request flexible working, alongside changes to long-term care.

Changes to social security contributions and a new payment for some people on lower incomes were also planned, subject to States approval of tax reforms.

A savings working group has identified more than 30 areas for further investigation, it said.

The work plan also proposes allowing parents to share statutory leave following the birth or adoption of a child and giving employees the legal right to request flexible working, rather than a right to receive it.

Long-term care proposals, expected to go before the States in the second half of 2027, will look at extending benefits to people receiving formal care at home and introducing a higher rate for people with complex care needs.

Committee president deputy Tina Bury said there was an "ongoing tension between ambition and deliverability across government" because of limited officer resources and funding constraints.

She said the committee was still "determined to make meaningful progress against our priorities this term".

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