The safety net for more than 5,500 poor and disabled Hawaii residents is becoming frayed.

The state said that beginning Feb. 1, its monthly general assistance will be reduced to $298 from $319 per person for 5,537 temporarily disabled people with little or no income.

The reduction, the second in about 16 months, was prompted by a 5.3 percent increase in the number of recipients, the state Department of Human Services said Friday.

Department Director Patricia McManaman said that although the nation and Hawaii continue to experience slow but steady economic growth, the benefits of a growing economy have not reduced people requiring state financial help.

"We continue to see increased enrollment across our programs," she said in a news release.

McManaman said the department will introduce legislation allowing it to supplement general assistance through its other resources.

The general assistance program provides money to buy essentials, including food, clothing and payment for shelter, to adults 18 through 64 without minor dependents.

Recipients must be temporarily disabled, have little or no income and must not be receiving Social Security assistance.

The monthly benefit level was set initially at $353 for fiscal year 2011-2012 but was reduced to $319 in October 2011 after a 4.5 percent enrollment increase.

On average, beneficiaries receive assistance for 8.6 months.