Average Hourly Earnings of Self-employed Persons as Criterion for Application of Financial Assistance and Social Support

Debated in Parliament on 2 Jul 2024.

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Ms See Jinli Jean asked whether the Ministry would consider using average hourly earnings of self-employed persons to calculate equivalent household income for financial assistance applications, to account for potentially lower hourly earnings compared to those working standard hours.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) assessment is based on the applicant’s total monthly earnings, other income, and savings, compared against basic living expenses.
He noted that for households with the same monthly expenditure for basic needs, those with lower monthly income receive more cash assistance, regardless of employment type or hours worked.
The Minister clarified that the current system does not differentiate based on employment status or working hours, focusing instead on total monthly income against essential expenses.

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See Jinli Jean

Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will consider accepting the use of average hourly earnings of self-employed persons to derive the equivalent household income for application of financial assistance and social support to take into account that they may have lower average hourly earnings as compared to others who work the standard work hours per month.

Masagos Zulkifli B M M

The assessment for ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) is based on the applicant’s total earnings for the month, other sources of income and savings. This is compared against what is sufficient to cover their basic daily living expenses. For two households with the same monthly expenditure for basic needs, the household with lower monthly income will get more cash assistance. This is regardless of whether household members are employed or self-employed, and also regardless of the number of hours worked.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms See Jinli Jean asked whether the Ministry would consider using average hourly earnings of self-employed persons to calculate equivalent household income for financial assistance applications, to account for potentially lower hourly earnings compared to those working standard hours.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) assessment is based on the applicant’s total monthly earnings, other income, and savings, compared against basic living expenses.
He noted that for households with the same monthly expenditure for basic needs, those with lower monthly income receive more cash assistance, regardless of employment type or hours worked.
The Minister clarified that the current system does not differentiate based on employment status or working hours, focusing instead on total monthly income against essential expenses.

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Average Hourly Earnings of Self-employed Persons as Criterion for Application of Financial Assistance and Social Support | PAPERCUTS

Average Hourly Earnings of Self-employed Persons as Criterion for Application of Financial Assistance and Social Support

Debated in Parliament on 2 Jul 2024.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms See Jinli Jean asked whether the Ministry would consider using average hourly earnings of self-employed persons to calculate equivalent household income for financial assistance applications, to account for potentially lower hourly earnings compared to those working standard hours.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) assessment is based on the applicant’s total monthly earnings, other income, and savings, compared against basic living expenses.
He noted that for households with the same monthly expenditure for basic needs, those with lower monthly income receive more cash assistance, regardless of employment type or hours worked.
The Minister clarified that the current system does not differentiate based on employment status or working hours, focusing instead on total monthly income against essential expenses.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

See Jinli Jean

Masagos Zulkifli B M M

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ms See Jinli Jean asked whether the Ministry would consider using average hourly earnings of self-employed persons to calculate equivalent household income for financial assistance applications, to account for potentially lower hourly earnings compared to those working standard hours.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) assessment is based on the applicant’s total monthly earnings, other income, and savings, compared against basic living expenses.
He noted that for households with the same monthly expenditure for basic needs, those with lower monthly income receive more cash assistance, regardless of employment type or hours worked.
The Minister clarified that the current system does not differentiate based on employment status or working hours, focusing instead on total monthly income against essential expenses.

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Average Hourly Earnings of Self-employed Persons as Criterion for Application of Financial Assistance and Social Support

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

See Jinli Jean

Masagos Zulkifli B M M

Summary

Questions Identified

Average Hourly Earnings of Self-employed Persons as Criterion for Application of Financial Assistance and Social Support

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

See Jinli Jean

Masagos Zulkifli B M M

Summary

Questions Identified