Legislation boosting access to child daycare support has won Opposition backing in the House of Assembly.

The debate raised questions about legislators’ duty to vulnerable Bermudians versus the island’s ability to fund benefits.

The Child Day Care Allowance Amendment Act will widen access to the allowance, which is $800 per child per month for households earning $55,000 or less a year.

It will bring in a monthly maximum of $900 per eligible child to homes taking in up to $65,000 a year, and $700 for those with $97,000 in gross annual income.

Households of up to $130,000 a year will be able to seek $500 per child.

Jason Hayward, the economy and labour minister, said reform was needed for households struggling with rising costs and having to choose between child daycare and early education, as well as meeting other expenses.

“This change not only improves households’ ability to ensure that their child is in daycare but also increases the purchasing power of households grappling with the cost of living.”

Mr Hayward said it was “part of what sets the Progressive Labour Party apart”, and highlighted coming changes to financial assistance that would significantly broaden eligibility — such as raising the cut-off from $500 in the bank to $5,000, amending child support and allowing gifts to be provided to financial assistance recipients in need.

A “sudden hardship benefit” of $1,500 for a three-month period is to go before legislators, he said, and Cabinet had approved changes to the list of allowable expenses to recipients of financial assistance.

Mr Hayward added: “Every single recipient on financial assistance will receive increased benefits.”

Jarion Richardson, the Opposition Whip, signalled the One Bermuda Alliance’s support, noting that “a society is judged on the way it treats the vulnerable”.

He added: “We have to have a question about the cost of benefits in all the actions of any government.”

Mr Richardson also questioned the need for a legislative amendment, with the minister able to bring amendments to daycare regulations, which would kick in more quickly.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, told MPs the legislation was “critical” in shoring up access to early childhood education.

“This Bill allows for parents not to go broke or have to make important choices as to what bills are going to be paid in ensuring their children receive a class-A education at an early age.”

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, said the legislation would have a significant impact for women in Bermuda and help many mothers get back into the workforce.

“People are working two or three jobs and they continue to take care of their families,” she said. “This sort of assistance for our people, for our women, is huge.”

Anthony Richardson said he was “overjoyed” by the changes included in the legislation, stating it would help to ensure there are the right supportive measures in place to ensure children start out on the right track.

He added: “Even though you can take a corrective action, it is a lot easier if you can start moving in the right direction.”

Michael Dunkley, the Shadow Minister of National Security, said the island had suffered a breakdown of the family unit and discussions needed to be had about how to strengthen it again.

“If we are going to really see our country get on a better footing, it has to start with the family being stronger,” he said.

Jamahl Simmons urged eligible families to take advantage of the support being offered, stating that few families could afford to have only one breadwinner.

He said that every part of the community needed to do what it could to support families, such as offering employees flexible time, work from home and paying staff living wages.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said the legislation was “brilliant” and the Government was correcting past wrongs by making the child care allowance available to more people.

“This child care Bill is an essential step,” he said.

He told the house he did not view the childcare allowance as a financial assistance or a “handout” but as a human right for children.

Mr Hayward closed the debate stating that the intention of the changes was simply to help people live a “decent and dignified life”.

“This change guarantees that every single mother who makes less than $130,000 will receive a benefit,” he said. “Every single parent who makes under $130,000 and lives independently will receive a benefit per child per month. That’s a big deal.”

Mr Hayward said the Government paid out about $90,000 a month on daycare allowances, with the funds going to 30 facilities to benefit around 110 families.

He added that even with improvements to the economy, there would be people who needed support.

“There will always be a need for us to provide assistance and at this point it is not designed to be temporary assistance. It is something we anticipate building upon in coming years.”

He added that if the Government was in a position to offer free daycare for everyone in Bermuda, then it would do so, but at this stage the measure was meant to support those who were in need.