Social welfare — Topics

7 Oct 2014

Concessionary Public Transport Travel for Senior Citizens

Chen Show Mao inquired about the percentage of senior citizens with concession cards, peak usage times, and potential fare reductions or a study on the economic benefits of lower fares for seniors.
Lui Tuck Yew responded that 84% of eligible seniors have concession cards, with no distinct peak usage periods throughout the day and week.
Seniors currently receive discounts of 25% to 55% off fares and have access to a monthly concession pass capped at $60, with the Public Transport Council regularly reviewing concessions.

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7 Oct 2014

Easing Impact of High Core Inflation Rate on Low-wage Households

Ang Wei Neng asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry about actions to ease the high core inflation rate and cushion its impact on low-wage households.
Lim Hng Kiang explained that core inflation is driven by higher food import costs and services inflation due to tight labor market conditions, while MAS uses currency appreciation to contain imported inflation.
The government is committed to keeping inflation in check through productivity schemes and transitional support like the Wage Credit Scheme to moderate wage cost pass-through to prices.
A multi-pronged approach supports low-income households, including job creation, Workfare, wage support, and subsidies and transfers for healthcare, childcare, education, transport, and housing costs.
Government transfers and rebates accounted for 90% of annual income per member for the lowest income quintile, highlighting significant support for vulnerable households.

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7 Oct 2014

Link between Retirement Provision Adequacy and Low Take-up Rate for Lease Buyback Scheme

Gerald Giam questioned whether the low take-up rate for the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) indicates seniors are adequately supported or reflects flaws in the scheme's design or awareness.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that most seniors have multiple income sources, including CPF payouts, family support, and housing equity, which may reduce the need for LBS.
The government has enhanced LBS features, such as extending it to 4-room flats and allowing more flexibility, to address feedback and better suit seniors' needs.

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7 Oct 2014

Pioneer Generation Fund Bill

The Pioneer Generation Fund Bill was presented to Parliament to provide financial and other support to Singapore's Pioneers.
The Bill was read for the first time and is scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting.
The proposal aims to establish a dedicated fund for the well-being of Singapore's Pioneer Generation.

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7 Oct 2014

Age Requirement of Couples in Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme

David Ong questioned why the Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme requires both spouses to be at least 63 years old, arguing it penalizes couples with large age differences and asked for a review.
The Minister for National Development explained that the age requirement aligns with the CPF draw-down age to ensure participants can immediately receive monthly payouts under CPF LIFE after using the scheme's proceeds.
For households not meeting the age criterion, the Minister suggested alternative options such as subletting the flat, moving to a smaller flat, or buying a Studio Apartment with the Silver Housing Bonus.

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9 Sep 2014

Diminished Impact of Pioneer Generation Package on Elderly Pensioners

Seah Kian Peng asked if a review is being conducted on the diminished impact of the Pioneer Generation Package for low-income elderly pensioners.
The Deputy Prime Minister assured that government pensioners will retain all existing post-retirement medical benefits while also receiving additional benefits under the Pioneer Generation Package.
Eligible government pensioners will receive lifelong Medisave top-ups, enhanced CHAS subsidies, and disability assistance, which will reduce their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
All pensioners will be enrolled in MediShield Life, providing additional coverage beyond their current medical schemes.
The government concluded that the combination of the Pioneer Generation Package and existing pensioner benefits will improve the overall well-being of eligible pensioners.

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9 Sep 2014

Appeals from Senior Citizens Not Eligible for GST Vouchers Due to Their Residential Address

Mr David Ong asked about the number of appeals from seniors who meet income and property ownership criteria but are denied GST Vouchers due to the high annual value of their residential address.
The Senior Minister of State explained that about 120 appeals per year come from seniors aged 65 and above who live in properties with annual values exceeding $21,000, which represent the top 15% of owner-occupied homes, and noted the scheme's criteria and the rationale for its current structure.
Mr Ong highlighted that many seniors feel unfairly excluded because they live with their children and do not own property, and asked if the benefit could be extended to such cases.
The Minister reiterated that appeals from seniors in financial difficulty are carefully reviewed and encouraged MPs to submit cases for consideration, assuring that deserving cases will receive assistance.

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8 Sep 2014

Percentage of Workforce Engaged under Contracts for Services

As of June 2013, 8.1% of employed residents were own account workers, a slight decrease from 8.9% in 2003, and they typically operate their own businesses under contracts for services.
Self-employed persons are required to contribute to their Medisave accounts if their net trade income exceeds $6,000 annually, but contributions to Ordinary and Special Accounts for retirement are voluntary and encouraged through tax relief.
The government promotes retirement savings for self-employed individuals through awareness campaigns, outreach events, and support schemes like Workfare Income Supplement and Medisave top-ups, while industry initiatives such as the Drive-and-Save scheme are also encouraged.

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8 Sep 2014

Number and Profile of Stay-at-home Mothers

Irene Ng asked for statistics on stay-at-home mothers, their HDB flat types, average CPF savings at age 65, and poverty rates among elderly women and men.
Tan Chuan-Jin reported that about 312,000 women were economically inactive due to family responsibilities, with no data on their HDB flat types.
The average CPF balance for women who turned 65 in 2013 was $56,000, influenced by historical factors like lower wages and fewer women working.
Around half of women aged 65 and older were widows, and 35% of beneficiaries under the ComCare Long Term Assistance scheme were female.
The government emphasized that CPF balances alone do not reflect vulnerability, citing other resources and support schemes for the elderly.

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8 Sep 2014

Extension of Land Lease of St John's Home in Sennett Estate

Sitoh Yih Pin asked whether the land lease of St John's Home in Sennett Estate can be extended beyond the current three-year offer when it expires in December 2015.
Chan Chun Sing explained that St John's Home is on a 30-year lease ending 31 December 2015 and that the Government supports a three-plus-three-year tenancy to provide continuity for the elderly residents.
The proposal aims to ensure the Home can continue operating at its current location for an extended period.
The Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining stability for the elderly residents by offering a staged lease extension.

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8 Sep 2014

Use of Medisave for Visits to Specialist Outpatient Clinics

David Ong asked the Ministry of Health to consider extending Medisave use for specialist outpatient clinic visits due to increasing chronic conditions among the elderly.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated Medisave is already usable for select specialist outpatient treatments including 15 chronic conditions and cancer care, with subsidies for specialists and drugs increasing in 2014 and 2015.
The Ministry will extend Medisave for all diagnostic and treatment scans up to $300 annually and launch a Flexi-Medisave scheme in 2015, allowing elderly patients to use up to $200 yearly for outpatient treatment at specialist clinics, polyclinics, and CHAS clinics to reduce cash payments.

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8 Sep 2014

Profile of Senior Citizens Signing Up for Lease Buyback Scheme

In 2014, 1,083 senior citizens across 812 households had participated in the Lease Buyback Scheme since 2009, with 51% aged 63–70, 42% aged 71–80, and 7% aged 81 and above.
The lowest CPF LIFE monthly payout was $50 for an owner with a low CPF top-up due to a 5% share of the flat, while the highest was $1,200.
The average CPF LIFE monthly payout was $550, influenced by factors such as the time of joining the scheme, share of proceeds, and starting CPF Retirement Account balance.

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8 Sep 2014

Amount of Annual Medisave Top-ups under the Pioneer Generation Package

The Pioneer Generation Package provides lifelong annual Medisave top-ups ranging from $200 to $800, with the amount determined by year of birth rather than current age to give extra support to earlier cohorts who missed newer CPF and healthcare enhancements.
The rationale for using year of birth is that older pioneers typically have lower Medisave savings and receive top-ups for a shorter duration, while younger pioneers get lower amounts but over a longer period.
Other elements of the package, such as MediShield Life premium subsidies, increase with age to maintain affordability, while outpatient subsidies remain the same for all pioneers regardless of age.
The Pioneer Generation Package supplements broader government support for the elderly, including GST Vouchers, higher Medisave top-ups for older seniors, and subsidies for long-term care services.
Additional assistance for healthcare needs is available through schemes like MediFund Silver for those unable to afford medical costs.

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8 Sep 2014

Phasing Out of Analogue Telephone Services

The Minister confirmed that all telephone operators must meet Quality of Service standards for both analogue and digital services, and SingTel remains the sole provider of residential analogue services with no announced phase-out plans.
The Ministry is actively supporting the transition to digital services through programmes like the Digital Inclusion Fund, which subsidises broadband and devices for low-income households, and by updating infrastructure standards for new buildings to support digital services.
The Ministry aims to ensure no one is left behind in the move to digital services by maintaining obligations for analogue services while providing resources and information to help the public adopt newer digital options.

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8 Sep 2014

Insufficient Monies in Medisave Accounts for MediShield Life Premiums

The Minister outlined four ways the government provides substantial help to keep MediShield Life premiums affordable, including permanent subsidies for lower- and middle-income families, the Pioneer Generation, and transitional support for all citizens.
It was noted that about nine in ten inactive CPF members have sufficient Medisave balances or family support to cover at least three years of MediShield Life premiums, with additional top-ups available through schemes like the GST-Voucher.
The government emphasized that with permanent subsidies, additional premium support for the needy, and other measures, no Singaporean will be unable to afford MediShield Life premiums or fall out of the scheme.

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8 Sep 2014

Appeals to Receive Pioneer Generation Package

Lee Li Lian asked for an update on the appeal criteria and procedures for the Pioneer Generation Package, to which Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam responded that the Appeals Panel has been evaluating cases based on individual merits for citizenship appeals, considering factors like early residency and contributions to Singapore.
For age-related appeals, the Panel concluded it is not feasible to allow appeals for those marginally missing the age cutoff, as this would require extending the eligibility to all Singaporeans born before 1949, and noted existing healthcare benefits for older Singaporeans not in the Pioneer Generation.
The Panel, supported by a secretariat, verifies documents, contacts appellants for further verification, and meets regularly to decide on appeals.

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8 Sep 2014

Implementation of Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme

The Minister confirmed that under the enhanced LBS, flat owners can choose a 35-year lease option to cover them until age 100, and HDB will work out case-by-case housing arrangements if anyone outlives the lease.
For flats affected by the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, owners will receive compensation based on the balance lease at the time of the SERS announcement and have the option to buy a new replacement flat with the same balance lease or a fresh 99-year lease at a subsidized price.
The CPF top-up requirement for LBS proceeds is being relaxed, allowing households with two or more owners to retain more lump-sum cash after topping up only half the age-adjusted Minimum Sum per owner.

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5 Aug 2014

Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)

Mary Liew asked the Ministry of Health to engage employers to promote CHAS sign-ups and to extend acceptable medical certificates to all CHAS-registered clinics.
MOH, through the Agency for Integrated Care, is working with unions and public/private employers via talks, roadshows, mailers, newsletters, and posters to increase CHAS awareness.
MOH encourages employers to spread CHAS awareness internally and to accept medical certificates from any registered doctor for sick leave purposes.

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5 Aug 2014

HDB Flat Choice of Lower Income Elderly

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked how many Singaporeans aged 55 and above live in 3-, 4-, and 5-room flats, how many of these are lower income elderly, and how many have joined the Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme since its 2013 enhancement.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan replied that 367,000 households with elderly owners live in these flat types, with 32% in 3-room, 44% in 4-room, and 24% in 5-room flats, but HDB does not track income data, and 326 households have joined the enhanced scheme.
Dr Mokhtar proposed extending the Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme to 4-room flats, noting that 44% of the elderly households are in such flats.
Minister Khaw acknowledged the suggestion and stated that the ministry is studying various monetisation options based on feedback from focus group discussions with seniors.

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5 Aug 2014

Options for Singaporeans to Set Aside Larger Sums than CPF Minimum Sum

Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Manpower how CPF LIFE can allow Singaporeans to set aside more than the Minimum Sum of S$155,000 to receive higher monthly payouts, questioning the cap and the scheme's funding mechanism.
The Minister explained that CPF LIFE is designed for basic retirement needs, uses risk pooling to ensure lifelong payouts, and offers options like top-ups and the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) for those seeking higher incomes.
Concerns were raised about the lack of higher annuity options within CPF LIFE, with the Minister noting that middle and higher-income individuals can use other investments and that the scheme focuses on supporting lower-income groups.
The debate also covered SRS, where payouts are taxable, and suggestions were made to increase the SRS cap to account for inflation, with the Minister agreeing to consider improvements.
Overall, the discussion highlighted CPF LIFE's role in providing basic retirement assurance, the flexibility of alternative schemes, and the government's openness to reviewing options for better retirement planning.

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