Isle of Man's vulnerable to get winter support payments worth £1.8m

Winter bonuses had been replaced by energy support payments last year

A support package worth £1.8m to help the vulnerable and those on low incomes over winter has been pledged by the Isle of Man Treasury.

Plans to reinstate the Christmas and winter bonus lump-sum payments will be put before Tynwald in November.

They had been replaced last year by support payments aimed at helping the vulnerable pay high energy bills.

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson said the bonuses would help "the most vulnerable members of our society".

The Treasury is set to spend £1m funding the Christmas Bonus, which will see a £40 lump-sum automatically paid to about 25,000 individuals and families on state pensions and other benefits.

'Reassurance'

Dr Allinson said the one-off winter bonus payment of £350 would go to "more than 900 pensioners and 1,350 working people".

The sum is available to those on income support, but can be reduced if a person shares responsibility for housing costs with other people.

The two bonus payments, expected to be paid in January, would be "targeted at those who need it most", Dr Allinson said.

He also confirmed the Manx government would mirror the UK's approach to the state pension triple lock to "provide pensioners with reassurance".

That increase is expected to be 8.5% but has not been confirmed by the UK government.

Funding TV licences has previously cost the Manx government about £800,000

The Manx government has also agreed to extend free TV licences for all Manx residents aged over 75 for a further 12 months until 31 December 2024.

The move will enable about 5,000 Manx households to "continue using their television sets without any financial burden", Dr Allinson said.

Pensioners on income support receive their licences free from the BBC, with the Manx government paying for those who do not receive the benefit.

Dr Allinson said that government contribution was under review, with the introduction of additional eligibility criteria form 2025 being explored.

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