Social welfare — Topics

16 Sep 2013

Use of Medical Subsidy for Haze-related Ailments

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef queried the Minister for Health on the number of people who have used the $10 subsidy for haze-related consultations and whether more clinics have joined the scheme.
The Ministry of Health introduced the haze subsidy scheme on 21 June 2013 to support Singaporeans who are elderly, children, or in lower-income groups with a $10 fee for haze-related respiratory or eye conditions at participating clinics.
As of the report, around 8,200 attendances were recorded at GP clinics and 2,600 at polyclinics under the scheme.
The number of participating GP clinics has grown from 200 at launch to over 650 today.

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16 Sep 2013

Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Scheme

Chen Show Mao asked whether the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) scheme include bathroom remodelling for wheelchair accessibility and, if not, whether such works could be added as an option for households with elderly or disabled members.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that HIP addresses flat maintenance issues like concrete spalling and leaks, while EASE provides specific senior-friendly fittings such as slip-resistant floors, grab bars, and ramps to aid mobility within the flat.
Khaw noted that EASE already supports wheelchair users through cost-effective ramps between areas like the kitchen and bathroom, and that extensive bathroom remodelling goes beyond HIP and EASE objectives, though residents can pursue such works independently with HDB approval.

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16 Sep 2013

Coverage of Childcare Subsidy Scheme for Children of Couples Undergoing Divorce

David Ong asked what assistance the Ministry can provide to families when childcare subsidy coverage becomes uncertain due to parental divorce.
Chan Chun Sing stated that eligible children continue to receive childcare subsidies during divorce, with the custodial parent typically applying as the main applicant based on their own income and working status.
The Early Childhood Development Agency reassesses subsidy amounts if interim custody is granted, and further financial assistance is available for families needing extra help.

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16 Sep 2013

Extension of Medisave and Community Health Assist Scheme Coverage to Treatment of Epilepsy

Foo Mee Har questioned if long-term epilepsy treatment could be covered under the enhanced Medisave and Community Health Assist Scheme.
Gan Kim Yong stated that current coverage under the Chronic Disease Management Programme includes 10 conditions, with five more to be added in 2014, and that epilepsy is under consideration for future inclusion.
He added that patients needing epilepsy treatment currently receive subsidies at polyclinics, and the government continues to review expanding Medisave use to more chronic conditions.

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16 Sep 2013

Regulation of Charges by Doctors

Ms Mary Liew raised concerns about monitoring doctor charges to keep healthcare affordable for lower-income Singaporeans.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that healthcare costs are rising due to advanced treatments, but public institutions monitor costs and fees to ensure affordability.
The Ministry of Health publishes hospital bill sizes and is considering publishing public sector doctor fees to increase transparency and help patients make informed decisions.
The government plans to provide more subsidies for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans needing specialist outpatient care, with details to be shared in early 2014.

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16 Sep 2013

Assistance for Children of Disadvantaged Families

Dr Lily Neo highlighted that disadvantaged children from low-income families face significant challenges such as unstable home environments and lack of early education, and proposed targeted family support, early intervention, and parenting programmes to address these issues.
The Minister for Social and Family Development acknowledged the need for equitable and integrated social services, emphasizing tiered subsidies, cross-agency collaboration, and expanding community-based support structures like Family Service Centres.
Both speakers underscored the importance of early intervention and inter-ministry cooperation to break the cycle of poverty, with the Minister outlining ongoing initiatives such as the Vulnerable Family Pilot Programme and the Social Service IT Masterplan.

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16 Sep 2013

Income Threshold for GST Voucher

Lee Li Lian questioned why the $24,000 Assessable Income (AI) threshold is used for the GST Voucher – Cash, whether it will be reviewed for inflation, and if basic annual salary could be used instead to determine eligibility.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance explained that the AI threshold targets the bottom 40% of earners and includes other income sources for fairness, with annual reviews to account for income changes.
In a supplementary question, Lee Li Lian suggested using basic salary with a cap on AI multiples to better include low-income workers, but the Ministry noted it will consider this during the next threshold review.
The Ministry also highlighted that only the GST Voucher – Cash uses AI, while other components like U-Save and MediSave do not, and that additional support is available through other schemes.

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16 Sep 2013

HDB Rental Flat Applicants

The Minister reported that 48,200 households occupy HDB rental flats with an average stay of 11 years, and plans are in place to increase the total rental flat supply to 60,000 by 2017 to meet demand.
HDB provides financial grants and priority for rental tenants to purchase new 2-room flats, and since 2011, over 13,700 applications were rejected as they did not meet eligibility criteria or could afford alternatives.
Currently, 1,900 applicants are on the waiting list, with about 1,300 flats available for allocation, and the waiting time has been reduced from 21 to 7.5 months despite challenges like Ethnic Integration Policy quotas.
HDB collaborates with social agencies to address underlying socio-economic issues, such as unemployment and family conflicts, and uses financial counselling to help low-income families manage affordability.
The government uses a broad eligibility framework for rental flats, considering household income and family size, and aims to allocate flats expeditiously to the truly needy.

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16 Sep 2013

Housing Options for Divorcees with No Children

Dr Chia Shi-Lu inquired about expanding housing options for divorcees without children and shortening the debarment period for elderly, low-income divorcees.
The Minister of State outlined that such divorcees are treated as singles, with options including buying resale flats, Studio Apartments, or applying for 2-room BTO flats if they meet first-timer criteria, along with grants and rental schemes.
The debarment period for buying resale flats or Studio Apartments is waived, while for other cases it was reduced to three years, with flexibility for extenuating circumstances.
Dr Chia asked if these divorcees could be considered first-timers for BTO flats and if the rental debarment period could be further lowered for low-income cases.
The Minister clarified that first-timer status depends on previous housing subsidies, and rental debarment flexibility is considered case-by-case, especially for those without child custody.

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16 Sep 2013

Projected Increase in MediShield Payouts

The Ministry of Health is studying enhanced MediShield coverage, including lifelong protection for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, with details and costs under review ahead of a public consultation later this year.
The Minister acknowledged that higher payouts from expanded coverage would lead to increased premiums, but assured that government subsidies and existing MediSave top-ups will ensure affordability, especially for the elderly and low-income.
A Pioneer Generation Package is being developed with details to be announced later, while MediShield Life aims for implementation by 2015, pending further consultations and policy finalization.

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16 Sep 2013

Qualification Criteria for Community Health Assist Scheme

The Minister announced that from January 2014, the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) will remove the age qualification, allowing all Singaporeans in lower and middle-income households to access subsidized care, with automatic inclusion for existing cardholders' younger family members.
If a CHAS-eligible household experiences a drop in income during the validity period, the subsidy level can be upgraded from orange to blue upon application and case-by-case review.
The Ministry is actively encouraging more private GPs and dental clinics to join CHAS by explaining the scheme’s benefits through the Agency for Integrated Care and outreach efforts.
CHAS subsidies primarily cover chronic diseases under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), which is being expanded from 10 to 15 conditions, and acute outpatient care for blue cardholders, but not all procedures at participating clinics.

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12 Aug 2013

Enhancement of Barrier-free Facilities on Roads and in Estates

Mr Png Eng Huat asked whether the Ministry will work with LTA and HDB to enhance barrier-free facilities in light of Singapore's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Government affirmed its commitment to creating an accessible environment through the Enabling Masterplan, citing ongoing improvements such as ramps, tactile paving, accessible public transport, and Universal Design in HDB flats.
MSF highlighted the $40-million Accessibility Fund and the ongoing review of the Accessibility Code to expand accessibility features for the disabled, elderly, and families.
The Minister stated that more can be done and MSF will continue collaborating with other agencies, businesses, and the community to address accessibility needs.

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12 Aug 2013

Abandonment of Elderly Parents

The Ministry reported low numbers of abandonment cases over the past three years, with fewer than five referred cases and fewer than ten annually from social service agencies and hospitals.
Cases are typically addressed through counseling, linking families to support services like home help or day care, and, in rare instances, placing the elderly in alternative living arrangements or repatriating them if abandoned overseas.
Existing laws such as the Mental Capacity Act and the Maintenance of Parents Act provide protections and financial support options for vulnerable elderly, while the government offers caregiver support through measures like the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant and plans to continue reviewing policies to strengthen family ties.

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12 Aug 2013

Use of MediSave for Parents' Medical Bills

David Ong questioned the number of MediSave withdrawal requests from seniors aged 60 and above for parents' medical bills and suggested a review to promote shared family responsibility in elder care.
Gan Kim Yong noted that in 2012, about 4,600 CPF members aged 60 and above withdrew an average of $2,000 from their MediSave for parents' treatment, representing 2% of that age group's total withdrawals.
He explained that using MediSave for family healthcare supports children caring for parents but must be balanced to ensure sufficient savings for their own needs, with top-ups via GST Voucher and financial assistance options available.

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12 Aug 2013

Extension of Public Rental Scheme to 3-Room Flats

Lim Biow Chuan asked if HDB would allow larger families to rent 3-room flats, what plans exist for existing 3-room rental stock, and whether affordable rental options would be provided for those ineligible for the Public Rental Scheme.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that 3-room flats have not been rented out for over 30 years to promote home ownership, with focus on subsidised 1- and 2-room rentals for lower-income families to help them save and eventually buy homes.
HDB continues to assist the remaining 600 households in 3-room rental flats to upgrade or move to smaller units, while converting vacant 3-room flats for other uses or smaller rentals.
Eligibility criteria are in place to target the truly needy, but HDB may exercise flexibility for genuine hardship cases even if criteria are not fully met.
The government aims to balance housing affordability, home ownership goals, and support for the needy without expanding 3-room rentals broadly.

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12 Aug 2013

Repayment of CPF Funds when Co-owners Withdraw from Co-Ownership

Intan Azura Mokhtar proposed reviewing the CPF policy requiring parents to repay CPF funds used for their children's HDB loans when children withdraw from co-ownership to buy another flat with a spouse or fiancé/fiancée.
Tan Chuan-Jin explained that CPF funds must be refunded to maintain retirement adequacy, with a charge on the property ensuring proceeds from any sale are used to repay CPF principal and accrued interest.
He noted that the refund requirement applies when lifting the charge on a property co-purchased with parents, and the child must repay the CPF funds via transfer, cash, or a loan to proceed.

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12 Aug 2013

Ensuring Places at Tertiary Institutes for Singaporeans

Heng Swee Keat affirmed the government's commitment that no Singaporean student will be denied tertiary education at public universities or polytechnics due to financial constraints.
He explained that all Singaporeans receive a tuition grant covering about 75% to 85% of fees, supplemented by a range of financial assistance schemes like bursaries, loans, and scholarships.
The government has increased bursary amounts and expanded eligibility, while also partnering industries to offer scholarships such as the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS).

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9 Jul 2013

Expanding Use of MediSave for Scans and for Elderly Patients

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked whether the healthcare financing review would consider expanding MediSave use for outpatient CT and MRI scans and ensuring retirees can use the system for outpatient services without cash.
Minister Gan Kim Yong noted current MediSave limits for outpatient scans related to cancer and chronic diseases, and said the review is exploring ways to reduce cash outlay for outpatient treatments, especially for the elderly, while balancing affordability and preservation of MediSave for hospitalisation bills.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah pressed for a timeline on the review completion, citing residents' concern over high scan costs.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained the review is complex, covering MediFund, MediShield, MediSave, and subsidies, and aims to balance affordability, prudent use, and incentives for healthy living; he assured that measures will be announced progressively when ready.

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9 Jul 2013

Encouraging HDB Rental Flat Tenants towards Home Ownership

HDB provides employment assistance and rent waivers to help rental tenants upgrade their income and savings, with targeted grants, flat options, and priority in new flat allocations to support their transition to home ownership.
The government communicates policies automatically to prevent income disincentives, offers a multi-year rental stability period, and works with social agencies to address barriers like childcare and elderly care, focusing on a long-term pathway to ownership.
While encouraging home ownership, HDB exercises compassion in individual cases, such as allowing elderly parents to remain in rental flats if their adult children cannot fully support them, to balance housing needs and family circumstances.

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9 Jul 2013

Government Support for Shelters for Women Victims of Domestic Violence

The Ministry of Social and Family Development funds four shelters run by voluntary welfare organisations for women victims of domestic violence, providing temporary accommodation, counselling, and support for children, with coverage for capital and operating costs.
The government partners non-government organisations and community groups in public education, multi-agency networking, and support services to help victims seek assistance and reintegrate into school or work, while encouraging community reporting of abuse.
The Ministry is committed to allocating sufficient shelter space, facilitating reintegration support networks, and partnering with charities and the private sector, including relocating shelters as needed when leases expire.
Existing policies allow mothers and children to be housed together in shelters, with alternative arrangements made for older boys or unsuitable cases, while ensuring families spend time together to rebuild their lives.

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