Falklands : FIG Sets New Rules for Family Allowance
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.06.2010 (Article Archived on 11.07.2010)
At its monthly meeting, Executive Council confirmed a decision that Family Allowance should no longer be paid for children who have reached their 16th birthday.
FIG Sets New Rules for Family Allowance
By J. Brock (FINN)
At its monthly meeting, Executive Council confirmed a decision that Family Allowance should no longer be paid for children who have reached their 16th birthday.
Executive Council decided that this change should come into effect on 1 July 2010, at the same time as other changes to Family Allowance, and that it should apply to all children who have reached their 16th birthday (including 16 year olds who are still in compulsory education).
A Bill to amend to the Family Allowances Ordinance will be presented to Legislative Assembly at its next meeting, which is scheduled for 30 July 2010, and that Bill will be published shortly. That Bill will contain a provision which would backdate the amendment to 1 July 2010 if the Bill is passed on 30 July 2010.
Application forms for Family Allowance, in the meantime, have been prepared on the basis of the proposal considered by Executive Council and the following arrangements will apply:
· Family Allowance will not be paid from 1 July 2010 for children who have already reached their 16th birthday or who will reach it between now and 1 July 2010 (inclusive).
· Even if means-tested Family Allowance has been paid up until the end of June 2010 for children in that category, no further payments will be made for those children.
· For children who reach their 16th birthday during July 2010, Family Allowance will be paid for the month of July 2010 but no further payments will be made after that.
· Assuming that the Bill is passed, final payments of Family Allowance for children who reach 16 after July 2010 will be made at the beginning of the month in which they turn 16.
If the Bill to amend the Family Allowances Ordinance is not passed by the Legislative Assembly (or if it does not agree to the backdating provision), the situation will be reviewed and backdated payments of Family Allowance will be made as appropriate.
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