Treasury to pause changes to benefits system

Benefit changes could be put back while the government considers the full impact to the vulnerable.

Plans to increase minimum work hours for people on employed persons' benefits could be delayed by another six months, if Tynwald backs the move.

The Treasury minister said he wanted to "press the pause button" on changes that were first approved in 2019 to encourage people back into work.

Due to take effect in April 2022, they were put on hold over the pandemic.

David Ashford said a delay would allow them to consider the impact on vulnerable working families.

He added that the world is a very different place to when the changes were approved, and the financial impact of the pandemic is still of great concern to many in our community.