The Council of Ministers’ third Annual Report on Poverty Measures will be laid before the May 2026 sitting of Tynwald, providing a detailed and transparent overview of poverty on the Isle of Man and the actions taken by Government over the past year to support individuals and families experiencing financial hardship.
The report fulfils a recommendation of Tynwald’s Select Committee on Poverty and reflects the Isle of Man Government’s commitment to evidence‑led policy‑making, openness, and a sustained cross‑government approach to tackling poverty.
While the Isle of Man continues to perform relatively well when compared with international and UK benchmarks, the report recognises that too many households remain under financial pressure. The report acknowledges that recent cost‑of‑living challenges, rising fuel prices, and global instability — including the ongoing war in the Middle East — may place additional strain on household budgets and contribute to inflationary pressures and are closely monitoring the situation. The report therefore presents a balanced assessment, acknowledging these realities while clearly setting out the scale of Government action to mitigate their impact.
A significant development in this year’s report is the introduction of a new Below Average Resources (BAR) measure for the Isle of Man. Developed by Statistics Isle of Man and published alongside the 2023/24 Household Income and Expenditure Survey Second Report, the BAR measure goes beyond traditional income‑based indicators by accounting for household assets and unavoidable costs such as disability‑related expenses and childcare. Using this measure, around 14% of the Island’s population are assessed as having low resources. This is broadly consistent with other relative poverty measures locally.
Although the BAR measure is described as experimental and should be interpreted with care, it represents an important step forward in better understanding need and monitoring trends over time.
Over the past 12 months, Government has delivered a wide range of measures aimed at supporting low‑income and vulnerable households. These include increases to pensions and benefits — with the basic state retirement pension and the full Manx state pension rising by 4.8% from April 2026 under the triple lock — alongside uprating of most other benefits in line with inflation.
Further support highlighted in the report includes improved help for carers and working families, increased access to Exceptional Needs Grants and Budgeting Loans, and action to reduce barriers to banking and digital services. The Energy Efficiency Scheme has now supported more than 8,000 homes, prioritising pensioners and low‑income households, helping reduce energy bills and improve living conditions. Social security services continue to be modernised through the rollout of the TRANSIT digital platform, improving access and efficiency for claimants.
The report confirms strong progress against the majority of recommendations made by the Select Committee on Poverty, while openly acknowledging ongoing challenges, particularly housing affordability, fuel and utility costs, and pressure on household finances.
Treasury Minister Chris Thomas MHK said:
‘This report demonstrates the scale of Government action to support people through what continues to be a challenging period. Global events, including the war in the Middle East, are adding to pressures on the cost of living, and we are acutely aware of the impact this has on households. While the Isle of Man performs well comparatively, our focus remains on those who are struggling and on ensuring that support is targeted, proportionate and effective.’
The Treasury Minister gave a wider economic update to Tynwald on April 21, and Government will continue to take a coordinated, multi‑departmental approach, working closely with Tynwald, the Poverty Committee, the third sector and community partners.
The Annual Report on Poverty Measures has been published on the government website.
