MERA cut to £100 a week from August

Scheme unsustainble according to Treasury

A benefit, introduced by the government for those who lost their jobs or work due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be halved by next month.

The Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance, or MERA, will drop from £200 to £100 a week after 3 August.

MERA has paid out more than £3.4 million in direct support, but will be phased out by the end of September.

It's part of the 'tapering off' of measures deemed 'unsustainable' by Treasury, which accepts job losses may occur as a result.

In other changes introduced this week, anyone who loses their job after 1 August won't be able to claim MERA.

But the amount a person can earn while still claiming the benefit has gone up from £50 to £150 a week.