People can now go online to respond to a Treasury consultation about potential changes to the Isle of Man state retirement pension and benefits system.
The consultation is on 'SurveyMonkey' at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NIPensions.
Paper copies of the consultation document with a 'quick response' form are now also available at local authority offices and libraries around the Island, to make it easier for people to get involved.
The proposed reforms come from a review of the system which was first published in November last year. This was followed by a series of public meetings in early March before the consultation was launched on March 23.
The consultation is running until May 15 and it asks for views on a range of issues including:
- whether the Island's state retirement pension arrangements should be separate from the UK's;
- the Manx pension supplement;
- how to get a full pension;
- making National Insurance and benefits simpler and fairer; and
- how to ensure that people will always be better off in work than on benefits.
Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK said:
'The state pensions and benefits system affects almost everyone at some point in their lives, and any changes that we make need to be thought about carefully.
'The Island is facing some of the biggest decisions about pensions and benefits since the welfare state started nearly 70 years ago, and it is important that people help us to get those decisions right by taking part in this consultation.'