Concerns have been raised over changes to the eligibility criteria for income-based benefits such as jobseekers’ allowance.

Eligibility has been switched from using Isle of Man worker basis - when a work permit is not needed - to a residential qualification.

But Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) is worried the changes may mean some young people, who moved to the island and finished their secondary education, may be precluded from claiming some benefits once they entered the job market, because they failed to meet the criteria.

The new regulations were approved by Tynwald last week, but Treasury department member Ralph Peake pledged to meet concerned MHKs to discuss concerns.

Mr Peake (Douglas North) explained the changes cover income support, income-based jobseekers’ allowance and employed person’s allowance.

The Treasury had decided that ’specific provision should be made in social security legislation for an Isle of Man residential condition which is not directly linked to Isle of Man worker status’.

He added: ’The new Isle of Man residential condition also provides that a new category of person may qualify for income-related benefits: that is a person who has 10 or more years’ ordinary residence in the island, made up of three or more separate periods, each less than five years.

’Under the existing Isle of Man worker tests, such a person would not qualify for income-related benefits as a continuous period of at least five years is required.’

Mr Hooper said under the current format the child of a work permit holder could be treated as an Isle of Man worker if they had lived here for 12 months, were under-23, ordinarily resident and had received full-time education.

’What is going to be done about those few families who move to the island with a child of secondary school age and then that child completes their secondary schooling here but is themselves not eligible because they have not been here for five years, they have not been here for 10 years?’ he asked.

Mr Peake’s Treasury colleague Bill Henderson MLC said the problem could be addressed under human rights rules where it would be ’oppressive’ to withhold a benefit.