A surge in Financial Assistance clients, prompting Government to launch a fraud hotline to catch cheaters, was seized by the Opposition as a sign that the One Bermuda Alliance lacks a plan for jobs.

Michael Weeks, Shadow Community Minister, said yesterday: “For months the Premier has claimed that jobs are being created, yet despite the OBA reducing benefits, 2013 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of Bermudians using Financial Assistance. It is obvious that the Premier’s words and reality are not in sync.”

Mr Weeks accused Government of punishing the unemployed, adding: “Expect those who need help the most to be pushed to the sidelines by the OBA in favour of those who need help the least.”

However, he also called for sharper penalties for those who abuse the system.

Wayne Scott, Minister of Community and Cultural Development, in turn charged that Mr Weeks appeared to be “deliberately misleading and misrepresenting the Government’s intent here, which is to offer help to those most in need”.

“There is fraud within the system and we cannot correct this situation without the help of the public. Fraudulent actions take away assistance from the most vulnerable.”

Although The Royal Gazette twice requested the actual numbers of people receiving Government aid, a figure has yet to be provided.

In response to questions, Mr Scott wrote: “As I’ve stated in Parliament, during the first quarter of this year and for the first time ever, assistance payments exceeded $10 million dollars. During the second quarter, that number ballooned to over $12 million. This Government has provided unprecedented support to those in need.

“Historical data shows that persons seeking Financial Assistance for lack of work typically have been out of work from three to six months before they first seek assistance. Based on this fact and that this Government was only elected in December 2012, this rise statistically represents the state of affairs at the waning months of the now Oppositions’ tenure.”

Mr Scott introduced the fraudster hotline on Wednesday, citing an “unprecedented increase” in numbers of people seeking Government help.

Nicola Feldman, executive director at the aid agency The Coalition for the Protection of Children, responded that such increases ought to have been expected.

“Unemployment continues to plague our island and Financial Assistance is the Department that bears the burden of having to support our families through the times of struggle,” she said.

“Of course there are people abusing the system; there always have been and there always will be, and the Department should have always been monitoring that as a part of providing public service professionally and efficiently. But this unprecedented increase in the costs of financial assistance is about Bermuda’s economy — not about Bermudians trying to cheat the system.”

Ms Feldman said the top priority should be “getting people jobs that can afford a decent living”.

“A job that still requires people to be subsidised by Financial Assistance because the pay is so low that families cannot afford their bills is not adequate,” she told The Royal Gazette.

“We all know how high the cost of living is in Bermuda, so let’s remember that when we make statements about the budget for the department supporting the livelihoods of those who are struggling. Practice due diligence and keep people accountable, certainly — but to focus on those cheating the system when we have so many other issues that need resolution is missing the point completely.”