The Treasury is reminding people receiving Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (MERA) that they must advise them of the date they returned to work, or intend to return to work.

MERA offers weekly £200 payments to those who are unemployed due to the pandemic or the self-employed unable to work because of the restrictions.

Earlier this week it was announced that MERA would be extended to February 14 for those who cannot immediately return to work, despite the circuit break lockdown being set to be fully lifted from February 1.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said: ’In order to ensure people receive MERA for the correct period we need them to contact us by email to advise us of the date they returned to work, or plan to return to work.

’Anyone who needs additional support after January 31 must inform us by Friday, February 5, otherwise we will assume they have recommenced paid employment with effect from January 31 and do not wish to claim support for the additional period.’

MERA recipients must confirm their return to work date by emailing [email protected], provide their full name and date of birth and their National Insurance number.