MERA, the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance, will continue to be paid for a further 14 days from the date a person returns to work.

The measure was announced by Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan at today’s coronavirus press briefing.

MERA was introduced from April 6 to provide a set income of £200 per week to individuals who had been made redundant, temporarily laid off or lost their self-employed work as a result of the Covid crisis.

It is paid two weeks in arrears direct to customers’ bank accounts.

To date, 2,513 people have applied for the benefit and almost 90% have been determined.

Some 74% of these have been awarded with the remainder being disallowed due to their not meeting the qualifying criteria.

The decision to extend MERA follows a return to work for those involved in the construction and horticulture sectors, recognising that many will not get paid by their employers or customers straight away.

Mr Cannan said: ‘It is good news that some people have been able to return to work, subject to certain conditions around social distancing rules.

‘Many will not get paid straight away, however, and have been relying on MERA for the past few weeks during lockdown. This 14-day extension will continue to deliver financial support in the short term.’

Earlier today, Tynwald approved an extension of the Salary Support Scheme (SSS) which, along with MERA, runs for 12 weeks and is the government’s central mechanism to support the economy through the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Cannan said £7m of wage support had been paid just for March.

The number of employees which a business must employ to qualify for the SSS has been reduced from a minimum of two to one.

The extension is forecast to cost an additional £5.3m.

Mr Cannan said: ‘We are paying millions of pounds out in support for our businesses and individuals.

‘Some of you have been able to return to work and be in a position to earn a wage, and so will no longer require support.

’I recognise, though, that for many of you that is not case and, dependent on how we are able to phase our return to normality, will require ongoing support.

‘We are actively considering how and to whom the existing schemes might be extended.

’It is clear that we must re-examine and refocus our financial plans for the current year. I intend to bring an update on this year’s budget to Tynwald in July, setting out our plans in more detail.’