The recently-opened Manx Reskill Scheme promises to be good for the people of Mann, according to the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance.
“Encouraging people to move from disability payments into employment offers obvious economic benefits for the people who find jobs, and the employers who hire them. But more substantially, it offers an opportunity for people with ‘long-term health conditions or disabilities’ to serve customers and our community,” said Michael Josem, Director of the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Key features of the Manx Reskill Scheme
- The Manx Reskill Scheme is attempting to help long-term unemployed (due to illness or disability) return to paid work.
- Financial support is paid to businesses to employ such staff.
- Payments are made from the IOM Government to the business to subsidise much of the employee’s gross salary for the first year of employment.
Massive rise in long-term disabled
As the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance revealed last year, there has been a massive rise in the number of Manx people who are receiving Disability Living Allowance in recent years:
The number of people receiving Disability Living Allowance has increased every year, from 2,364 people in 2015, to 2,898 people in 2021. The average increase in the number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 3.8% per year, for a total increase of 22.6% over the six year period.
Isle of Man Benefits Over Time
Work delivers dignity, not just money
“Not only is working financially better for everyone involved, but it is likely to help mitigate the risk of depression, loneliness and other factors associated with deaths of despair,” said Josem. “There’s been a more-than 20% increase in the number of people on disability living allowance in just five years in the Isle of Man.”
“Helping people move from welfare to work is the best way to increase our work force: it will help more people to lead more productive lives, to earn more money, to build valuable friendships, and to serve customers.”
Further information about the Isle of Man Government’s Manx Reskill Scheme is available online here.