Draft Social Security Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- (P.77/2026) – Children’s Rights Impact Assessment

1)  Name and brief description of the proposed decision

Decision' means:

• an Assembly proposition

• an amendment (or further amendment) to a proposition

• for Ministerial duty-bearers, policy under development

As part of the affordability measures set out in the 2027 Budget (see below) and the 2026  Common  Strategic  Policy  (CSP),  Ministers  wish  to  increase  the  support provided to parents. The Minister for Social Security plans to double the value of the Parental Grant payable under the Social Security Law as one of these measures.

The Budget includes a targeted package of measures, designed to help households manage cost of-living pressures with a particular support for families and lower- income households:

• Additional financial support for nursery and childcare, for 2-to-3-year-olds;

• a  £200  one-off  increase  paid  in  2027,  in  the  Community  Cost  Bonus, providing  additional  support  to  lower-income  households,  including pensioners;

• targeted expansion of free school meals provision to secondary schools;

• £250 family support payment for each school aged child in low to middle income households in 2027;

• doubling the Social Security parental grant provided to new parents to £1,800; and

• a freeze in fuel duty for 2027.

2)  Which groups of children and young people are likely to be affected?

Groups of children could include early years, primary or secondary education; young adults; children with additional learning needs; disabled children; children living in poverty; children from particular ethnic backgrounds; migrants; refugees; care experienced children and LGBTQ+ children

The Parental Grant is a single (tax free) payment, currently set at 3 times the standard rate of benefit (i.e. 3 times £307.93). It is paid as one lump sum of £923.79. The payment is aimed at helping with the general cost associated with having a new child. There is no direct impact on children.

If approved, eligible parents will benefit from extra financial support i.e. the lump sum amount received from £923.79 to £1,847.58. The value of the Grant increases in line with average earnings on an annual basis.

3)  What is the likely impact of the proposed decision on children and on their

rights?

Impacts may be positive or negative, direct or indirect

Include whether different groups of children will be affected differently by the decision

If approved, eligible parents will benefit from extra financial support.

4)  Is a full Children's Rights Impact Assessment required?

If you have identified impacts on children and their rights, a full CRIA should be completed. If no impacts are identified then a Full CRIA is not required, but please explain your rationale and how you reached this conclusion

A full CRIA is not required for these Regulations. The Parental Grant is available to eligible parents who are having a baby and they will/may benefit from this additional financial support but there is no direct impact on children or their rights.