Isle of Man

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1948.

Current laws: 1992 (consolidated legislation); 1995 (pensions); 1999 (welfare and pensions), implemented in 2000 and 2001; 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011 (pensions); 2009 (welfare).

Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance system.

Coverage

Contributory benefits: Employed persons with weekly earnings of at least £102.

Self-employed persons with net annual income of at least £5,315 are covered for all social insurance benefits except the state second pension, work injury benefits, contributory job seeker's allowance, paternity allowance, and adoption allowance.

Voluntary coverage for the basic retirement pension for nonemployed persons and employed persons with weekly earnings of less than £102.

Noncontributory benefits: All persons residing in the Isle of Man.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 11% of weekly earnings from £115 to £750 and 1% of weekly earnings above £750; certain married women and widows pay 4.85% of weekly earnings from £115 to £750 and 1% of weekly earnings above £750.

Around 20% of the insured's contribution is allocated to the Health Services for the cost of medical benefits. The insured's contributions also finance sickness, maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits; work injury benefits; and unemployment benefits.

Self-employed person: A flat rate of £2.50 a week plus 8% of annual earnings from £5,980 to £39,000 and 1% of earnings above £39,000.

The voluntarily insured pay a flat rate of £12.60 a week. Voluntary contributions finance only the flat-rate basic state retirement pension and bereavement benefits.

Around 20% of the self-employed person's contribution is allocated to the Health Services for the costs of medical benefits. The self-employed person's contributions finance all social insurance benefits except the state second pension, work injury benefits, and the contributory job seeker's allowance.

Employer: 12.8% of the employee's weekly earnings greater than £115.

Around 20% of the employer's contribution is allocated to the Health Services for the cost of medical benefits. The employer's contributions also finance sickness, maternity, paternity and adoption benefits; work injury benefits; and unemployment benefits.

Government: The total cost of means-tested allowances and other noncontributory benefits.

Qualifying Conditions

Basic state retirement pension (flat-rate): Age 65 (men) or age 60 (women, rising gradually to age 65 by 2018). The retirement age will rise gradually to age 66 (men and women) from March 2018 to October 2020. To receive the full pension, the insured must have paid or credited contributions for at least 30 years during his or her working life.

Partial pension: The insured must have one to 29 years of paid or credited contributions during his or her working life.

Deferred pension: There is no age limit.

The basic retirement pension is payable abroad, though annual increases according to changes in the cost of living are only paid if living in a country with a reciprocal agreement.

Pension supplement: Paid if ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man, has paid at least 10 years of contributions in the Isle of Man, and is entitled to the basic state retirement pension.

State second pension (S2P): Age 65 (men) or age 60 (women, rising gradually to age 65 by 2018). The retirement age will rise gradually to age 66 (men and women) from March 2018 to October 2020. The earnings-related pension is based on contributions paid as an employed person on earnings between the lower and upper earnings limit in any tax year since April 1978.

The annual lower earnings limit is £5,304.

The annual upper earnings limit is £39,000.

The basic retirement pension is payable abroad, though annual increases according to changes in the cost of living are only paid if living in a country with a reciprocal agreement.

Old person's pension (noncontributory retirement pension): Age 80 or older and receiving less than 60% of the full basic state retirement pension. The insured must be ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man and must have lived in the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom for at least 10 years in any 20-year consecutive period after age 60.

The old-person's pension is payable abroad.

Retirement pension premium: Age 65 or older, ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man, and eligible for or receiving a basic state retirement pension. The insured must have paid at least 10 years of contributions in the Isle of Man.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid to those with income below prescribed levels who work less than 16 hours a week. Benefits vary according to the claimant's age, family situation, number of children, and housing costs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid.

Long-term incapacity benefit: Paid to those below state pension age who are unable to work as the result of an illness or a disability. The insured must have paid contributions on earnings of at least 25 times the weekly lower earnings limit of £102 in one of the last two tax years and paid or credited contributions on earnings of at least 50 times the weekly lower earnings limit of £102 in each of the last two tax years. The benefit is paid after 52 weeks of incapacity for work (as determined by a medical assessment) or after 28 weeks if terminally ill or receiving the highest-rate care component of the disability living allowance.

The annual lower earnings limit is £5,315.

The benefit is also paid under specific conditions to persons who became incapable of work in their youth.

Pension supplement: Age 46 or older with at least 10 years of paid contributions in the Isle of Man, ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man, and entitled to the long-term incapacity benefit and to the high-rate care component of the disability living allowance.

Disability living allowance (noncontributory, no means test): Paid if the disability began before age 65. The person must reside permanently in the Isle of Man and have lived in the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom for at least six of the last 12 months. The allowance is determined by care and mobility needs and is paid after three months of disability (paid immediately if terminally ill).

Attendance allowance (noncontributory, no means test): Paid if the disability began at age 65 or older and the person needs a high level of care. The person must reside permanently in the Isle of Man and have lived in the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom for at least six of the last 12 months. The allowance is usually paid after six months of disability (paid immediately if terminally ill).

Disability working allowance (noncontributory, means-tested): Paid to persons enrolled in a training course, starting work, or already employed for at least 16 hours a week with an illness or disability that puts them at a disadvantage in securing employment; persons receiving the disability living allowance or attendance allowance; and persons who have received an incapacity benefit (short-term high rate or long-term rate), a severe disablement allowance, or income support (in certain circumstances) in the eight weeks before making the claim. The insured or their partner must have been born in the Isle of Man, work in the Isle of Man, or have resided in the Isle of Man for at least six months. The means test varies according to the family situation, number of children, housing costs, number of hours worked, and child care costs.

Caregiver's allowance (noncontributory, earnings-tested): Paid to an insured person who forgoes full-time work to care for a person with a severe disability (who is receiving certain qualifying benefits) for at least 35 hours a week. The caregiver must be older than age 16 at the time of the claim and not be a full-time student or earning more than £100 a week. The caregiver must reside permanently in the Isle of Man and have lived in the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom for at least six of the last 12 months.

Widow's pension: If death occurred before April 9, 2001 and the deceased was a pensioner or eligible for a basic state pension at the time of death.

The pension is payable abroad.

Widowed parent's allowance: Paid to widow(er)s who have children for whom they receive child benefits and to pregnant widows, if the deceased spouse had paid at least 52 weeks of contributions (50 if paid before 1975) and had paid contributions for at least 25% of his or her working life (90% for the full-rate benefit). The survivor must be younger than the normal pensionable age and have been married to the deceased at the time of death. Only applicable where the death occurred after 9 April 2001.

The allowance is payable abroad.

Bereavement allowance: Paid to survivors aged 45 or older when the spouse died or when the widowed parent's allowance ceased, if the deceased spouse had paid at least 52 weeks of contributions (50 if paid before 1975) and had paid contributions for at least 25% of his or her working life (90% for the full-rate benefit). The allowance is paid for 52 weeks following the date of widowhood. The survivor must have been married to the deceased at the time of death.

The allowance is payable abroad.

Pension supplement: Paid if age 46 or older with at least 10 years of paid contributions in the Isle of Man, ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man, and entitled to the widow's pension, widowed parent's allowance, or basic bereavement allowance.

Bereavement payment: Paid to widow(er)s younger than age 60 or for a survivor whose spouse was not entitled to the basic state retirement pension at the time of death if the spouse had paid at least 25 weeks of contributions in any tax year or his or her death was work-related. The survivor must have been married to the deceased at the time of death.

Guardian's allowance: Paid for raising an orphan or, in some cases, a child with one surviving parent.

Funeral grant (universal benefit): Paid for the death of a resident of Isle of Man. Additional support is provided to persons receiving income-related benefits and who have personal savings of less than £6,000.

Old-Age Benefits

Basic state retirement pension (flat-rate): The maximum weekly pension is £102.15.

Partial pension: The basic state retirement pension is reduced according to the percentage of paid or credited contributions during the insured's working life.

Dependent's supplement: £58.80 a week is paid for each dependent adult plus an additional £2 a week if the dependent is older than age 80.

Deferred pension: The pension is increased by approximately 10.4% for each year of deferral; the minimum deferral period is five weeks. If the pension is deferred for at least 12 consecutive months, the increase may be paid as a taxable lump sum plus interest.

There is no earnings test for pensioners who work while receiving the basic state retirement pension.

A person who qualifies for both the basic state retirement pension and the caregiver's allowance (see permanent disability benefits, below) receives the higher of the two benefits.

Pension supplement: The weekly rate is 48.8% of the basic state retirement pension, up to £49.85.

State second pension (S2P): The pension is based on average indexed earnings.

Old person's pension: £61.20 a week is paid minus any basic state retirement pension entitlement. The pension is paid weekly or monthly.

Retirement pension premium: £14.45 a week is paid.

The benefit is reduced by the amount received for the S2P or old person's pension.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid according to the claimant's age, family situation, number of children, and housing costs. Assistance may be given for housing costs and loans or grants paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in April according to increases in the Isle of Man consumer prices index.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Long-term incapacity benefit: £94.25 a week is paid from the 53rd week of incapacity (or starting from the 29th week if terminally ill) following the payment of a short-term incapacity benefit (see Sickness and Maternity, below). A supplement is paid if the disability began before age 45.

Dependent's supplement: £54.75 a week is paid for each dependent adult.

Pension supplement: £40.68 a week is paid.

Disability living allowance (noncontributory, no means test): The care component is £73.60, £49.30, or £19.55 a week according to care needs. The mobility component is £51.40 or £19.55 a week according to the level of mobility impairment. The benefit is paid weekly or monthly.

Attendance allowance (noncontributory, no means test): £49.30 or £73.60 a week is paid according to need.

Disability working allowance (noncontributory, means-tested): The allowance is £0.70 for every £1 of income that falls below the prescribed level depending on the size of the family, the number of work hours, and other factors. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The allowance is awarded for between four and 26 weeks; thereafter, the award may be renewed.

Caregivers's allowance (noncontributory, earnings-tested): £55.55 is paid weekly to an insured person who earns less than £100 a week (after deducting allowable expenses) and who cares for a person with a severe disability (who receives certain qualifying benefits) for at least 35 hours a week (April 2011). The benefit may be paid for up to eight weeks after the person cared for dies.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in April according to increases in the United Kingdom consumer prices index (the Isle of Man consumer prices index for the disability working allowance).

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid to those with income below prescribed levels, subject to conditions. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week (or whose partner is working 24 hours or more a week).

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in April according to increases in the Isle of Man consumer prices index.

Survivor Benefits

Widow's pension: Up to £100.70 a week is paid.

Pension supplement: Up to £49.15 a week is paid.

Widowed parent's allowance: Up to £100.70 a week is paid.

Allowance supplement: Up to £49.15.

Bereavement allowance: The allowance varies according to the survivor's age when widowed; up to £100.70 a week is paid.

Allowance supplement: Up to £49.15 a week is paid.

Bereavement payment: A lump sum of £2,000 is paid.

Guardian's allowance: £14.75 a week is paid for each child.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually in April according to increases in the United Kingdom consumer prices index.

Funeral grant (universal benefit): A lump sum of £210 is paid if the death occurs in the Isle of Man; £350 if the death occurs outside the Isle of Man and burial or cremation is to take place within the Isle of Man. Additional support is provided to persons receiving income-related benefits and who have personal savings of less than £6,000.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted on an ad hoc basis.

Administrative Organization

Isle of Man Department of Social Care, Social Security Division (http://www.gov.im/socialcare) administers and distributes pensions and benefits.

Isle of Man Treasury, Income Tax Division (http://www.gov.im/treasury) collects national insurance contributions.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1951.

Current laws: 1992 (pensions); 1994 (incapacity benefit); 1999 (welfare and pensions), implemented in 2000 and 2001; 2001 (national health service) implemented in 2003; and 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011 (pensions); 2009 (welfare).

Type of program: Social insurance, social assistance (cash benefits), and universal (medical benefits) system.

Coverage

Short-term incapacity benefit: All those who meet certain contribution conditions, whether or not employed when the incapacity began.

Maternity allowance: All women who meet certain employment and earnings conditions.

Payment for maternity expenses: Expectant and new mothers who receive or whose partner receives income-related benefits.

Medical benefits: All persons residing in the Isle of Man.

Source of Funds

Insured person: For incapacity benefit and maternity allowance, see source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Self-employed person: For incapacity benefit and maternity allowance, see source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Employer: For incapacity benefit and maternity allowance, see source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: Most of the cost of medical benefits and the total cost of means-tested allowances.

Qualifying Conditions

Short-term incapacity benefit: The insured must have at least four consecutive days of sickness within a period of incapacity for work. Contributions must be paid on earnings of at least 25 times the weekly lower earnings limit of £102 in one of the last two tax years and paid or credited contributions on earnings of at least 50 times the weekly lower earnings limit of £102 in each of the last two tax years.

The insured must be younger than the state pensionable age.

Maternity/adoption allowance: All employed or self-employed earners must have worked for at least 26 weeks, paid contributions for at least 13 weeks in the 66-week period before the expected week of childbirth and have earned at least £30 a week or paid self-employed contributions for at least 13 of those weeks. Insured women who do not meet the qualifying conditions for a maternity allowance may qualify for a short-term incapacity benefit for six weeks before and two weeks after the expected date of childbirth.

Individuals are eligible to receive a benefit for adopting a child, but only one member of a couple will receive the allowance. Self-employed persons are not eligible for the adoption allowance.

Paternity allowance: The insured must be employed continuously for at least 26 weeks by the same employer up to and including the 15th week before the expected date of childbirth (in case of adoption, 26 consecutive weeks immediately before the date of the adoption is confirmed) and ordinarily reside in the Isle of Man. The insured's weekly earnings must be at least equal to the lower earnings limit of £102 in any eight weeks of the 26-week period. The insured must also be the child's father, married to the child's mother, the person adopting the child, or living with the child's mother or the person adopting the child in an enduring family relationship. Self-employed persons are not eligible.

Medical benefits: All persons residing in the Isle of Man.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Paid to persons with income below prescribed levels residing in the Isle of Man. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week (or whose partner is working 24 hours or more a week).

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Short-term incapacity benefit: Paid after a three-day waiting period at a lower and a higher rate. The lower rate is paid for the first 28 weeks at £71.10 plus £42.65 a week for a dependent adult. The higher rate is paid from the 29th to the 52nd week at £84.15 a week plus £42.65 a week for a dependent adult.

Maternity/adoption allowance: Paid for up to 39 weeks starting no earlier than 11 weeks before the expected date of childbirth or two weeks before the child is placed for adoption.

For employed earners the allowance is paid at the rate of 90% of the insured's average earnings up to £179.85 a week. Average earnings are based on the 13 weeks with the highest earnings during the 66-week period before the expected date of childbirth or adoption.

The standard rate of allowance for a self-employed person is £128.73.

Paternity allowance: The allowance is 90% of the insured's average earnings and is paid for up to two weeks in the first eight weeks following the date of birth or adoption of a child.

The maximum weekly benefit is £179.85.

Benefit adjustment: The standard rates of the short-term incapacity benefit and the maternity allowance for the self-employed are adjusted annually in April each year according to increases in the United Kingdom consumer prices index. The maximum rates of the maternity allowance and the paternity allowance for employed persons are adjusted annually according to the increases in the Isle of Man retail price index.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid to those with income below prescribed levels and vary according to the claimant's age, family situation, number of children, and housing costs. Assistance may be given for housing costs and loans or grants paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week (or whose partner is working 24 hours or more a week).

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical services are provided by doctors and dentists under contract with and paid directly by the Department of Health. Benefits include general practitioner care, specialist services, hospitalization, maternity care, dental care, medicine, appliances, home nursing, and family planning.

Social security benefits continue to be paid indefinitely while receiving free hospital in-patient services, except for attendance allowances and disability living allowances that are withdrawn after four weeks of hospitalization.

Cost sharing: Patients pay £3.85 for each prescription. For dental services, patients pay £16.50, £45.60, or £198, according to the services provided. Exemptions from prescription and dental charges are available to those receiving income-related benefits and their dependents, students younger than age 19, expectant mothers, war pensioners, individuals aged 60 or older (prescription charges), and individuals aged 65 or older (dental charges).

There is no limit to duration.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Dependents' medical benefits: Medical services are provided by doctors and dentists under contract with and paid directly by the Department of Health. Benefits include general practitioner care, specialist services, hospitalization, maternity care, dental care, medicine, appliances, home nursing, and family planning.

Cost sharing: Patients pay £3.85 for each prescription. For dental services, patients pay £16.50, £45.60, or £198, according to the services provided. The dependents of those receiving income-related benefits are exempt from prescription and dental charges.

There is no limit to duration.

Administrative Organization

Isle of Man Department of Social Care, Social Security Division (http://www.gov.im/socialcare) administers and distributes pensions and benefits.

Isle of Man Treasury, Income Tax Division (http://www.gov.im/treasury) collects national insurance contributions.

Isle of Man Department of Health (http://www.gov.im/dhss) administers and provides medical services.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1948.

Current law: 1992 (consolidated legislation).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Industrial injuries disablement benefit: There is no minimum qualifying period. In the event of a work-related injury, the insured must be an employee and must ordinarily reside in the Isle of Man.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Paid to persons with income below prescribed levels who are residents of the Isle of Man and who work 16 hours a week or less (or whose partner does not work more than 24 hours a week). Assistance may be given for housing costs and loans or grants paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Short-term incapacity benefit: The benefit is paid after a three-day waiting period. The lower rate is paid for the first 28 weeks at £71.10 plus £42.65 a week for a dependent adult. The higher rate is paid from the 29th to the 52nd week at £84.15 a week plus £42.65 a week for a dependent adult.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid according to the claimant's age, family situation, number of children, and housing costs. Assistance may be given for housing costs and loans or grants paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week (or whose partner is working 24 hours or more a week).

Permanent Disability Benefits

Industrial injuries disablement benefit: If the insured is assessed with a 100% disability, up to £150.30 a week is paid from the 90th day after the accident or the onset of the occupational disease. The benefit is paid weekly or monthly.

A reduced benefit is paid if the insured is younger than age 18 and has no dependents.

A medical board assesses the degree of disability.

Partial disability: The benefit varies from £30.06 a week for an assessed degree of disability of at least 14%, up to £135.27 a week for an assessed degree of disability of at least 90%.

No benefit is paid for an assessed degree of disability of less than 14%, unless the insured is diagnosed with an occupational respiratory disease.

Constant-attendance allowance: Paid if the insured requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions. The weekly allowance is £30.10, £60.20, £90.30, or £120.40, according to attendance needs. (Other complementary benefits are paid under certain conditions to persons with severe disabilities, having difficulties in finding suitable employment, or if disabled from a young age.)

The industrial injuries disablement benefit is paid in addition to any contributory benefits the insured may also be entitled to, including the long-term disability benefit or retirement pension.

Workers' Medical Benefits

The Department of Health provides all necessary benefits.

Survivor Benefits

Widowed parent's allowance: Up to £100.70 a week is paid to a widowed parent with at least one dependent child for whom he or she receives child benefits. The allowance is paid weekly or monthly.

Allowance supplement: Up to £49.15 a week.

Partial allowance: A reduced allowance is paid if the deceased made contributions for between 25% and 90% of his or her working life.

The allowance ceases on reaching the state pensionable age or on remarriage. The allowance is suspended if the survivor is cohabiting with a partner.

Bereavement allowance: The allowance varies according to the survivor's age when widowed: up to £100.70 a week is paid if aged 55 or older; a percentage of the full rate is paid if aged 45 to 54. The allowance is paid weekly or monthly from the first day after the spouse's death for up to 52 weeks.

The allowance ceases on remarriage and is suspended if the survivor is cohabiting with a partner.

Bereavement payment: A lump sum of £2,000 is paid immediately to help with costs related to the death of a spouse.

Guardian's allowance: £14.75 a week is paid for each child.

Funeral grant (universal benefit): £210 is paid if the death occurs in the Isle of Man; £350 if the death occurs outside the Isle of Man and burial or cremation is to take place within the Isle of Man. Additional support is provided to persons receiving income-related benefits and who have personal savings of less than £6,000.

Administrative Organization

Isle of Man Department of Social Care, Social Security Division (http://www.gov.im/socialcare) administers and distributes pensions and benefits.

Isle of Man Treasury, Income Tax Division (http://www.gov.im/treasury) collects national insurance contributions.

Isle of Man Department of Health (http://www.gov.im/dhss) administers and provides medical services.

Unemployment

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1948.

Current law: 1995 (job seekers).

Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance system.

Coverage

Social insurance: All employed persons.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Social assistance: All persons ordinarily residing in the Isle of Man with income below prescribed levels.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: The total cost of noncontributory social assistance allowances.

Qualifying Conditions

Job seeker's allowance (social insurance): The insured must be aged 16 or older and younger than the state pensionable age, involuntarily unemployed, or working less than 16 hours a week. Contributions must have been paid on earnings of at least 25 times the weekly lower earnings limit of £102 in one of the last two tax years before the start of the benefit year (January to December). The insured must have paid or credited contributions on earnings of at least 50 times the lower earnings limit of £102 in each of the two tax years before the start of the benefit.

The job seeker must be registered as unemployed, be capable of and actively seeking employment, be earning less than a prescribed amount, be physically present in the Isle of Man, and have a current Jobseeker's Agreement.

The Jobseeker's Agreement is drafted and signed by the job seeker and the job seeker's advisor and obliges the job seeker to actively seek training and work. Failure to sign a Jobseeker's Agreement results in the suspension of benefits.

Job seeker's allowance (social assistance): Paid to job seekers with income below prescribed levels and resident in the Isle of Man. Assistance can be given with housing costs, and loans or grants are paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week (or whose partner is working 24 hours or more a week).

The job seeker must be registered as unemployed, be capable of and actively seeking employment, be earning less than a prescribed amount, be physically present in the Isle of Man, and have a current Jobseeker's Agreement.

The Jobseeker's Agreement is drafted and signed by the job seeker and the job seeker's advisor and obliges the job seeker to actively seek training and work. Failure to sign a Jobseeker's Agreement results in the suspension of benefits.

Unemployment Benefits

Job seeker's allowance (social insurance): A flat-rate £67.50 a week is paid for up to six months if aged 25 or older; £53.45 a week if younger than age 25. The allowance is paid after a three-day waiting period.

Job seeker's allowance (social assistance): The allowance varies depending on the claimant's age, family income, and household composition. Assistance can be given with housing costs, and loans or grants may be paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 will reduce or eliminate the benefit paid.

Administrative Organization

Isle of Man Department of Social Care, Social Security Division (http://www.gov.im/socialcare) administers and distributes pensions and benefits.

Isle of Man Treasury, Income Tax Division (http://www.gov.im/treasury) collects national insurance contributions.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1951.

Current law: 1992 (consolidated legislation).

Type of program: Universal (child benefit) and social assistance (family income supplement) system.

Coverage

All persons residing in the Isle of Man with one or more dependent children.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Child benefit (noncontributory, universal benefit): The child must be younger than age 16 (age 20 if a student). Parents must have resided in the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom for at least 182 days in the last 52 weeks or fulfill certain special conditions.

Maternity grant: Paid to women aged 16 or older whose pregnancy lasts at least to the 25th week or to an individual or couple adopting an infant younger than 12 months at the date of the claim. The beneficiary or his or her partner must be receiving an income-related benefit (income support, job seeker's allowance (social assistance), family income supplement, or disability working allowance).

Family income supplement (income-tested): Paid to employed or self-employed persons working at least 16 hours a week who are responsible for a child or a disabled adult; a married couple with no dependent children. The beneficiary must reside in the Isle of Man. Family income must be below the prescribed threshold depending on the number of children and disabled adults in the family, housing costs, number of hours worked, and child care charges.

Income support (non-contributory, means-tested): Paid to single parents with income below prescribed levels. The beneficiary must reside in the Isle of Man. Assistance can be given with housing costs, and loans or grants are paid to cover urgent and exceptional needs. Personal savings greater than £13,000 may reduce the benefit paid. The benefit is not paid to persons working for more than 16 hours a week.

Family Allowance Benefits

Child benefit (noncontributory, universal benefit): £20.40 a week is paid for children younger than age 16; £30 a week is paid for children in full-time education from ages 16 to 19. The benefit is paid weekly or monthly.

Maternity grant: A lump sum of up to £500 is paid.

Family income supplement (income-tested): The supplement is £0.70 for every £1 of income that falls below the prescribed threshold. The benefit is paid weekly or monthly. Awards can be made for between four and 26 weeks and can be renewed thereafter.

Income support (noncontributory, means-tested): Cash benefits are paid to those with income below prescribed levels.

Administrative Organization

Isle of Man Department of Social Care, Social Security Division (http://www.gov.im/socialcare) administers and distributes pensions and benefits.

Isle of Man Treasury, Income Tax Division (http://www.gov.im/treasury) collects national insurance contributions