Government is pumping an additional $9 million into its financial assistance programme in order to help struggling Bermudians living on the poverty line.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Scott is expected to make a formal request for the top-up in the House of Assembly in the coming weeks, after it was recognised that funds were being drained.

In its first Budget last year, the One Bermuda Alliance Government earmarked $39.4 million to provide relief for seniors, the disabled and the unemployed in the 12 months up to April, 2014.

But last month it was revealed that Government had dished out an “unprecedented” $36 million in the first ten months of last year due to a surge in demand, and that the programme desperately needed more funds.

The extra $9 million will cover assistance payments up to the end of the current financial year on March 31.

Although data on exact unemployment figures is not available, 1,750 Bermudians were reported to be claiming financial assistance a year ago — an increase of almost 400 on the December, 2011 figure of 1,363.

The number of people applying for aid had increased every quarter since 2011, while the unemployed and those on low wages have taken an increasingly larger share of the fund in recent years.

Last night Mr Scott said he could not discuss details of the supplementary payout because it had not yet gone before the House of Assembly.

But he said that Government’s decision to keep the fund topped up would ensure that the less well-off were “not forgotten”.

He dismissed suggestions that continued demand for financial assistance was evidence that Government’s economic policies had failed to reduce the number of unemployed.

“We’re still feeling the fallout from the damage that was created earlier on and we will continue to see fallout, even though this Government is focusing on the economy and getting people back to work,” Mr Scott said.

“Let’s just say it’s misleading to say that all our problems were caused by the global economic downturn.

They may have been amplified by that downturn but the last administration was still spending $200 million more than it was bringing in each year and that meant that economic contraction was going to happen.

“We recognise that people are still struggling and need support and we are doing that be allocating these extra resources.

“But we’re working hard to support those in need, not just through financial support, but through social programmes and policies that will help them get back to work.

“It’s important that, when new jobs are created, there are Bermudians there who can take advantage of those vacancies.”

Last year Government began an overhaul of the programme, introducing a mandatory community service. element for those who received aid for more than three months.

Applicants were also requiring to attend specified life skills programmes, such as money management courses or parenting skills courses.

Last night one OBA party source said that Government’s main priority was to expand the economy so that Bermudians would not need financial assistance.

“At the same time, the Minister and his colleagues know that Bermudians families are struggling every day and will continue to struggle until economic growth starts creating the jobs and opportunity they’ve lost in recent years,” the party member said.

“They’re paying attention, and this is just one example of it. We want to carry everyone forward and if people need a hand when they need it, we’re going to make sure they get it.

“This government is in the business of making life better for the people of Bermuda. There’s no other point to governing.”