Was living in Henley on Thames when I did this and it was 1992. Dont think I would have been able to sign on in the Channel Islands even if I had lived here for 20 years!!!!!! Only lived in the Channel Islands for just under 2 years, prior to that lived in the UK, excluding the time I lived in Singapore that is. I certainly had to sign every 2 weeks though - probably the procedure has changed now.
It was certainly 40 yrs plus stamps that you had to have at that time!
Another little anomaly I have living here is that I have to pay according to my income, Social Services contributions, which is not inconsiderable every 3 months. So I paid top rate National Insurance all my life in the UK but now I have to pay another lot of cash out for something I will not be using here!!!!!! Thats why I am moving to France soon to get the EU benefits!!!!