Financial Support for Individuals

What is Unemployment Benefit?

Unemployment Benefit is a weekly cash benefit paid to unemployed people who are looking for work with an employer. To be eligible for Unemployment Benefit you must meet certain contribution conditions.

What are the contribution conditions for Unemployment Benefit?

There are two contribution conditions that you must meet to be entitled to unemployment benefit. These are:

1. You must have paid at least 26 social insurance contributions as an employed person in Guernsey at any time in your working life; and
2. You must have paid or had credited at least 26 contributions as an employed person during 2019.

Do I need to have a valid residency certificate to claim Unemployment Benefit?

Yes. If you don’t hold a valid residency certificate or permit you will not be eligible for unemployment benefit.

How much benefit will I receive?

The amount payable depends on the number of contributions you’ve paid or had credited in 2019.  The full rate of benefit is £163.60/week. The reduced rates of benefit can be found here. 

How do I claim Unemployment Benefit?

Please call our helpline on 732508 or email incomesupport@gov.gg to discuss what support may be available to you.

Sickness benefit is a weekly cash benefit paid if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.

To receive sickness benefit you must be unable to work for at least 4 days and meet certain contribution conditions.

What are the contribution conditions for Sickness Benefit?

There are two contribution conditions that you must meet to be entitled to sickness benefit. These are:

1. You must have paid at least 26 social insurance contributions, as an employed or self-employed person, at any time in your working life; and
2. You must have paid or had credited at least 26 contributions, as an employed or self-employed person, during 2019.

How much benefit will I receive?

The amount payable depends on the number of contributions you’ve paid or had credited in 2019.  The full rate of benefit is £163.60/week. The reduced rates of benefit can be found here. 

How do I claim Sickness Benefit?

To make a claim for sickness benefit you will need to submit a medical certificate. This will be supplied by your doctor or medical professional if they feel you are unable to work.  However, if you have recently developed flu like symptoms (cough, sore throat, running or blocked nose, muscle pains, fatigue or a fever) and cannot work please call our helpline on 01481 732507 or email benefits@gov.gg to discuss what support may be available to you.

Income support is a weekly cash benefit for people on low incomes. It’s a means-tested benefit which brings a person's income up to the level which the States decides is the minimum amount needed to live on – this varies based on household size.

What is the requirement rate?

The minimum amount required to live on is known as the ‘requirement rate’. A person’s requirement rate will depend on their circumstances. For example, a person who only has to look after themselves will not need as much money as, say, a person with a family to support. Similarly, a person who only requires assistance on a short-term basis will not need as much money as a person with a long-term need. The requirements can be found here. 

Who can claim Income Support?

A person who is over 18 years of age, no longer in full-time education and ordinarily resident in Guernsey, Alderney, Herm or Jethou may claim income support if their resources are insufficient to meet their needs.

If you live with a partner (whether you’re married or not), both your income and their income will be taken into account when determining if you’re entitled to income support. So, in the case of a couple where one person currently has no income, or very reduced income, as a direct result of COVID-19, and their partner remains in employment, the partner’s income will be taken into account as income available to the household.  If the partner’s income (and any other income the couple may have) is not enough to meet the couple’s/family’s needs, the person would be eligible for income support, providing they have savings below the capital limit (see below) and they’re ordinarily resident in Guernsey, Alderney, Herm or Jethou. If they’re not ordinarily resident in the islands they may be eligible for a payment from the hardship fund (see below).

What are the contribution conditions for Income Support?

There are no contribution conditions for income support.

Do I need to have a valid residency certificate to claim Income Support?

Yes. If you don’t hold a valid residency certificate or permit you will not be eligible for income support.

I live in open market accommodation, does this impact my entitlement?

The type of property that you’re occupying may impact your eligibility for income support. If you know the classification of the property that you’re occupying (e.g. Part A, B, C or D of the Open Market Register) this will be helpful when discussing what support is available to you.

If you are living in Part A, you may be entitled to a personal allowance under income support, but not a rent allowance (see below). If you are living in Part D, you are not entitled to any income support or rent allowance unless you have been resident in the Islands for 5 years or more in total.

What about my rent?

If you’re a householder - that is to say, if you’re living in and responsible for the upkeep of a house or a flat, and not living as part of somebody else’s household - a rent allowance will be added to your requirement rate (but only up to the maximum rent allowance for your household size - see below) when calculating your weekly needs.

What is the maximum rent allowance?

This is the maximum amount of rent which will be taken into account to calculate a householder’s weekly needs.  If the amount of rent that you pay per week is less than the maximum rent allowance for your household size, the amount of rent you pay will be taken into account.

• Single householder or couple with no dependent children - £227.000
• Couple/single householder with one dependent child - £271.82
• Couple/single householder with two dependent children - £346.05
• Couple/single householder with three or more dependent children - £423.02
• Person living in shared accommodation - £181.16

What if I own my own home?

If you’re an owner occupier, an allowance will be added to your requirement rate based on the interest element of any mortgage repayment up to the value of the maximum rent allowance for your household size (see above).

I am self-isolating, unable to work remotely and don't get paid by my employer, can I claim income support?

If you are self isolating due to being symptomatic, awaiting an operation or under public health guidance, providing you meet the eligibility criteria set out above you would be eligible to apply.

If you have returned to the island for any reasons other than medical treatment or due to exceptional circumstances, you would not be eligible to apply.

Please call income support on 01481 732508 if you would like to discuss this further.   

What if I have savings or other investments?

Income Support is not payable if you have savings or other investments worth more than the relevant capital limit for your household size, as set out below:

• Single person with no dependent children - £13,000.00 
• Couple with no dependent children - £15,000.00
• Couple/single person with one dependent child - £17,000.00 
• Couple/single person with two dependent children - £21,000.00
• Couple/single person with three or more children- £23,000.00

The value of the home you live in will be disregarded if you’re an owner occupier.

How do I claim Income Support?

Please call 01481 732508 or email incomesupport@gov.gg to discuss what support may be available to you.

I’m self-employed, can I claim Unemployment Benefit?

Generally, contributions paid as a self-employed person do not count for unemployment benefit which would mean that you could not receive unemployment benefit as a self-employed person. But, if in 2019 you have at least 39 contributions paid or credited as an employed person, then any self-employed (or non-employed contributions) on your record for the remaining 13 weeks of the year will be treated as if they were employed person contributions.

I’m self-employed, can I claim Sickness Benefit?

Yes, providing you meet the two contribution conditions set out in the sickness benefit section above.   

I'm self-employed, can I claim Income Support? 

Yes, providing you meet the eligibility criteria set out in the income support section above. 

I am about to reach pension age - can I claim my pension now or should I wait until the current restrictions are relaxed?

Pension claims are still being processed as normal.  However, if you’re unable to submit your claim on time, please don’t worry - normal late claim rules will not be applied.

I am in receipt of Old Age Pension but that's not enough to live on. Is there any other support available? 

If you are of pensionable age you may be entitled to assistance in the form of income support.

Unemployment benefit and sickness benefit are not available for people over pension age.

How do I claim income support? 

Please call our helpline on 01481 732508 or email incomesupport@gov.gg to discuss what support may be available for you.