Non-Isle of Man workers will be entitled to income-based benefits during the Covid-19 crisis, says the Treasury Minister.

Residents who have lived in the island for less than five years are not ordinarily eligible to claim benefits.

But Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan has ruled they will receive support during this unprecedented health crisis.

He told the Examiner: ’Non-Isle of Man workers do not normally qualify for income based Job Seekers’ Allowance other than in exceptional circumstances.

’As a matter of policy, I have instructed my officers to treat the current situation as exceptional and therefore the fact a person is not an Isle of Man worker will not currently preclude them from entitlement to income-based JSA or other income based benefit during this time.’

As part of measures to support residents during the pandemic, the Treasury Minister last week announced a new Covid benefit.

The Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (MERA) is designed as a safety net for those who have temporarily or permanently been laid off or lost their self-employed work since March 2.

The allowance provides an income of £200 per week and will be introduced on Monday (April 6).