Income support parents face earlier return to work

The change aims to make the system fairer said the Committee for Employment and Social Security

Guernsey parents who receive income support will be required to work part-time when their youngest child turns three, instead of five.

The Committee for Employment and Social Security said the change aimed to make the system fairer, "bolster the workforce", and help more children benefit from pre-school education.

The change will take effect from 1 September 2024.

Committee Vice-President Lindsay de Sausmarez said it was a "perfectly valid choice for parents to leave the workforce to fulfil childcare responsibilities".

But she added that the "current system of financial support enables some eligible parents to leave the workforce for longer than the majority of working age parents who do not receive income support, which the committee thinks is unfair".

The changes affect single parents and the member in a couple that is primarily responsible for childcare.

Part-time work is defined as at least 20 hours a week.

Income support offsets the cost of childcare against a person’s earnings so while those in receipt of it will be responsible for paying for childcare the costs should be factored into what they receive.