Child daycare allowance grows amid financial assistance shrink
Monthly daycare allowance grew by 65 per cent in the last fiscal year as financial assistance overall decreased, MPs heard today.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said the Child Day Care Allowance Programme assisted an average of 260 children between April 2024 and March 2025 — an increase from the 158 children between April 2023 and March 2024.
Despite the rise, financial assistance overall dropped 1 per cent, with programme expenditure grants totalling $51.74 million.
Ms Furbert was speaking while presenting the Department of Financial Assistance’s annual report for 2024-25.
She told the House of Assembly that the average number of financial assistance recipients was 1,977 — a decrease from last year’s 1,991 recipients.
Pensioners remained the highest recipients at 1,043 recipients, followed by the disabilities at 728; low wage earners at 132; and the able-bodied but unemployed, at 74.
The highest expenditures were rent, nursing and rest home fees, food and health insurance for HIP and FutureCare.
Ms Furbert said that the annual report recognised the start of the Short-Term Relief Benefit Programme made to offer assistance during “sudden and unforeseen financial hardships”.
She said that work continued to improve governance and oversight. Monthly compliance checks used data analytics to ensure compliance — with 78,023 transactions overseen and no compliance problems found.
She said: “Additionally, DFA works closely with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to recover overpayments made to clients as a result of fraud and abuse of the financial assistance system.”
Ms Furbert said her ministry continued to advance plans to reform financial assistance, such as personal care allowance in nursing and residential care homes.
She added: “The ministry will continue to work closely with the Department of Workforce Development to ensure individuals are better equipped with the skills, training and support necessary to access employment opportunities within the labour market and to increase their participation in Bermuda’s workforce.”
The annual report is available for online viewing on the government website.
Hard copies will be made available next week at the ministry headquarters at Veritas Place on Court Street, Hamilton, as will as the Department of Financial Assistance at Global House on Church Street.
• To read the minister’s statement in full, see Related Media
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