Applications for Purchase of Vehicles Received and Approved under Disabled Persons Scheme

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development regarding the purchase of vehicles under the Disabled Persons Scheme (a) annually from 2019 to 2022, how many applications have been received and how many are approved; and (b) among approved applications, what was the median time from application to approval.

The Disabled Persons Scheme (DPS) is a means-tested scheme that supports Singapore Citizens with permanent disabilities who have been assessed to be unable to use public transport, that are buses and/or MRT, and require a vehicle to earn a living. Eligible drivers are exempted from paying the premiums for Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) and the additional registration fees (ARF) when they purchase a vehicle.

From 2019 to 2022, SG Enable received an average of 17 DPS applications a year with an average of five approvals each year. The rejected applications were due to applicants exceeding the household income eligibility criteria or being assessed to be able to take public transport.

The median time to process an application was 47 working days, or approximately 10 calendar weeks, given the time required for verifications and clarifications with applicants and their employers.