Social welfare — Topics

14 Jan 2013

Reach of Community Health Assistance Scheme

Minister Gan Kim Yong reported that about 240,000 Singaporeans had signed up for CHAS by end-2012, with non-members still able to access subsidized care at polyclinics.
Applications typically receive CHAS cards within 15 working days if complete, though delays may occur, and applicants can check status via the CHAS hotline.
Agencies have promoted CHAS through media and grassroots efforts, with plans to intensify targeted outreach through CHAS champions, direct mailers, and neighborhood sign-up booths.

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14 Nov 2012

Adequacy of Singaporeans' Retirement Income

Laurence Lien questioned if new retirees, especially middle-class Singaporeans, will have enough replacement income to maintain their lifestyle, citing Singapore's low ranking in the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index 2012.
The Acting Minister for Manpower argued that international indices like the Melbourne Mercer Index are not suitable for comparing Singapore's CPF system, as they overlook key pillars such as home ownership and CPF's broader role in addressing medical and housing needs.
The minister emphasized that Singapore's approach focuses on self-reliance, asset accumulation through home ownership, and targeted support via Workfare and CPF top-ups, rather than universal basic pensions.
An independent NUS study commissioned by MOM found that new workforce entrants can achieve reasonable retirement income replacement rates (around 70% for men and 65% for women) through CPF savings, comparable to international standards.
For older Singaporeans with lower CPF balances, the government offers solutions like the Silver Housing Bonus and enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme to monetize housing assets and supplement retirement income.

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14 Nov 2012

Cost of Treatment for Babies with Congenital Diseases

Christopher de Souza asked the Ministry of Health to consider subsidising healthcare costs for babies with congenital disorders and expanding MediShield coverage to include such conditions for babies.
Gan Kim Yong responded that Singaporeans already receive up to 80% subsidies for subsidised treatment in public hospitals and can apply for financial assistance like Medifund if needed, with cumulative costs considered in eligibility assessments.
The Ministry is conducting a broader review on supporting parents' healthcare needs, including considering extending MediShield to congenital conditions as part of discussions on marriage, parenthood, and the "Our Singapore Conversation" initiative.

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14 Nov 2012

Goods and Services Tax Voucher Fund Bill

The Bill establishes a permanent GST Voucher Fund with $3.6 billion initially set aside to help lower-income Singaporeans offset GST costs, with payouts starting in FY2012 and funded for at least five years.
Debaters highlighted the scheme's role in making the GST system more progressive and providing certainty for vulnerable groups, while noting eligibility criteria based on income and property value may exclude some retirees and older citizens.
Concerns were raised about the long-term funding beyond five years, especially during economic downturns, and suggestions were made to refine eligibility rules, clarify beneficiary criteria, and ensure prudent fund management and investment.

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14 Nov 2012

Extending HOPE Scheme Coverage

Ang Wei Neng asked how many women joined the HOPE scheme this year and suggested relaxing eligibility to include mothers aged 35-40 with up to four children.
The Minister stated the scheme supports young low-income families who choose to keep families small, with 222 families joining in the first nine months, and noted a review is ongoing.
Ang Wei Neng urged an earlier review to assist mothers with multiple children and avoid a cycle of hardship, emphasizing the need for timely support.
The Minister advised that families needing help can be referred to the Ministry for assistance through the HOPE scheme or other avenues, regardless of eligibility.

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14 Nov 2012

Education for Social Mobility

The Ministry for Education highlighted that over the past decade, the education system has improved support for all students through multiple pathways, leading to a rise in the proportion of students completing secondary education and progressing to post-secondary institutions, with nearly 94% of a Primary 1 cohort advancing further.
Officials noted that socio-economic factors, such as parental background, influence student performance, prompting a multi-pronged approach involving financial assistance, enhanced scholarships, and community support from groups like CDAC, MENDAKI, and SINDA to aid needy students.
The Ministry emphasized that social mobility is broadly defined as each generation having more opportunities to pursue interests and aptitudes, with data showing stable progress for students from lower-income families over the last decade.

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14 Nov 2012

Encouraging Elderly Singaporeans to Sign on for MediShield

The Ministry of Health announced the removal of the maximum entry age for MediShield and plans outreach efforts, including public talks and community networks, to encourage uninsured elderly Singaporeans to enroll.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that high uninsurance rates among the elderly (76-85) are due to factors like existing insurance, pre-existing conditions, and the limitations of risk-pooling, while highlighting alternative support through subsidies, Medisave top-ups, and Medifund Silver.
Lam Pin Min raised questions about adjusting Medisave limits for higher premiums for those above 85 and an update on MediShield coverage for congenital diseases, with the Minister confirming reviews on affordability and ongoing discussions for future healthcare protections.

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12 Nov 2012

Foreign Worker Levies Collected and Workfare Income Supplement Disbursed

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the amounts of foreign worker levies collected and Workfare Income Supplement disbursed over the past two years, and whether the levies funded the WIS for Singaporean workers.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that foreign worker levies collected were S$2.5 billion in FY2011 and S$1.9 billion in FY2010, and these are not ring-fenced but go into the Consolidated Fund.
The Workfare Income Supplement disbursed about S$400 million each for work years 2010 and 2011 to support older low-wage workers.
All government revenue, including foreign worker levies, funds general expenditures such as the WIS scheme, but the levies are not specifically allocated to WIS.

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12 Nov 2012

Babies with Neonatal or Congenital Conditions

About 1,000 newborns are born with congenital anomalies annually, and around 5,000 have serious neonatal conditions each year.
Government subsidies of up to 80% are available for treatments at public hospitals, with additional support through Medifund for families facing financial difficulties.
Medifund provided $5.0 million in 2010 and $5.3 million in 2011 for patients aged 16 and below, though specific expenditure on congenital and neonatal conditions is not tracked.

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12 Nov 2012

Waiting Time for HDB Rental Flats

The HDB Public Rental Scheme currently has 49,300 units, up from 45,500 two years ago, with plans to increase to 57,000 by 2015.
The average waiting time for a rental flat is about six months, though it can be longer for applicants insisting on specific locations or blocks.
The government is building more rental flats but emphasizes strict assessments to ensure they serve the vulnerable, while discouraging Singaporeans from selling their HDB flats expecting subsidized rental options.

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12 Nov 2012

Employment for People with Disabilities

About 3% of Singapore's resident population has a disability, with varying degrees of severity, and there is no definitive data on their full-time and part-time employment numbers.
The Open Door Fund has supported 220 companies and 650 persons with disabilities since 2007, disbursing $3.2 million, while the Special Employment Credit has benefited about 1,200 employers and nearly 2,000 persons with disabilities.
The government supports job training through SPED schools, vocational education, and Centres of Training and Integration, though specific figures on beneficiaries over the past five years are not provided.
Efforts to improve public transport accessibility include creating barrier-free routes in MRT/LRT stations, making bus shelters barrier-free, and aiming for 100% wheelchair-accessible buses by 2020, with 54% currently meeting this standard.
Financial assistance for taxi costs is available through the Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Grant, LTA Cares Fund, and Trailblazer-Chan Chiew Ping Special Schools Fund for persons with disabilities who are working or studying.

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12 Nov 2012

HDB Loan Criteria for Second-Time Applicants

Tin Pei Ling asked about the number of second-time BTO applicants, how many are divorced single parents, and whether HDB should exclude single parents with custody from being classified as second-timers.
Khaw Boon Wan stated there are 16,900 second-time BTO applicants this year, with 1,400 (8%) being divorced single parents with children.
He explained that the second-timer status ensures priority for first-time applicants but acknowledged financial difficulties faced by divorced single parents.
HDB offers support such as budget-friendly flat options, resale levy incorporation, extended loans, interim rental housing, or public rental flats for those unable to purchase a home.

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12 Nov 2012

Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) Beneficiaries

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap inquired about the number of families benefiting from the HOPE scheme since its start, the ethnic breakdown of beneficiaries, and the scheme’s relevance given Singapore’s declining population.
Chan Chun Sing stated that 2,674 families were on HOPE as of September 2012, with ethnic breakdown based on mothers’ ethnicity: 45% Malay, 33% Chinese, 15% Indian, and others.
He noted that HOPE is a voluntary scheme for young low-income families, providing cash grants, housing, training, education support, and mentoring.
Chan Chun Sing mentioned that the Ministry of Social and Family Development will review the scheme to consider refinements or improvements.

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12 Nov 2012

Housing Grants for First-Time Flat Buyers

Intan Azura Mokhtar asked whether HDB could provide higher housing grants for first-time flat buyers of both resale and BTO flats, and if the grant could be a percentage of the purchase price rather than a fixed amount.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that housing subsidies are regularly reviewed to ensure affordability, with recent adjustments including the Special CPF Housing Grant.
For first-time buyers, grants can reach up to $60,000 for BTO flats and $80,000 for resale flats, in addition to market discounts for BTO buyers.
Khaw noted that pegging grants to a percentage of purchase price would be inequitable, as higher-income buyers of expensive flats would receive more subsidies than lower-income buyers of cheaper flats.
The government's approach remains to provide substantial, fixed grants to support first-time buyers while maintaining equity across different income groups and flat types.

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12 Nov 2012

Medisave Top-ups for Patients in Class C and B2 Wards

Gerald Giam asked if the Government could provide more help for Class C and B2 patients facing higher MediShield deductibles of $1,500 and $2,000 from March 2013, beyond existing one-off Medisave top-ups.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that MediShield is a catastrophic insurance scheme, and the deductible increases aim to keep premiums affordable while enhancing coverage limits; existing support includes one-off top-ups, annual GST Voucher top-ups for seniors, and Workfare Income Supplement payouts in Medisave.
Giam noted that Medisave top-ups are for premium increases, not deductibles, and asked if Medifund provisions could be increased to help patients who cannot afford deductibles.
Gan clarified that the annual GST Voucher top-ups can also cover deductibles and bills, and highlighted the recent $600 million Medifund top-up to assist needy patients with healthcare costs, including deductibles.

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12 Nov 2012

Extending Coverage of Community Health Assist Scheme

The Ministry of Health has enhanced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) by lowering the age criterion to 40 and relaxing income criteria, leading to a 20% increase in participating clinics and a seven-fold rise in cardholders.
The Minister reported that 31,000 patients used CHAS in the first half of the year, reducing potential polyclinic visits, and the government has disbursed $8 million in subsidies with a budget to accommodate more claims.
Concerns were raised about excluding Singaporeans living in private properties with an annual value over $13,000; the Ministry stated it reviews borderline cases individually and encourages MPs to flag deserving cases.
Some GPs are not participating due to perceived low patient volume and administrative burden, but the Ministry is working to achieve a more even distribution of clinics across constituencies.
The government will continue engaging clinics and the public to raise awareness and will review the scheme’s effectiveness before considering further extensions, such as to patients below 40.

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16 Oct 2012

Extension of Dependants' Protection Scheme Beyond 60 Years of Age

MP Gan Thiam Poh proposed extending the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) beyond age 60, citing rising life expectancy.
Acting Minister Tan Chuan-Jin explained that DPS need declines with age as dependants become less financially reliant and retirement savings accumulate.
The Minister stated that extending DPS would lead to significantly higher premiums due to increased mortality risk, which would be better used for retirement savings.
However, the government is open to reviewing requests for extended coverage on a case-by-case basis, albeit with much higher premiums, and will study this with the CPF Board.

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16 Oct 2012

Financial Assistance for ITE Students

In Academic Year 2011, about 11,800 ITE students received financial assistance in the form of bursaries, with additional support available for enrichment programmes through Edusave grants for local activities and the Opportunity Fund for overseas participation.
To help students remain in their courses, ITE provides academic and career counselling and partners with voluntary organizations like 4PM and MENDAKI to offer motivation, counselling, and mentorship to vulnerable students.
There are concerns that students from low-income families may need to work to supplement family income, potentially distracting from their studies, but the available bursaries are intended to cover course fees and reduce this burden.
The government involves parents and engages the people and charity sectors to support students, with programs open to all races and focused on holistic development.

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15 Oct 2012

Pre-school Education for Children from Low-income Families

The government has implemented a proactive outreach program since 2007 to identify and support low-income families with children not attending pre-school, involving multiple agencies and grassroots efforts.
Through house visits, financial assistance referrals, and casework support, the program has significantly reduced the percentage of children without pre-school education from 5% in 2006 to 0.8% in 2012.
The remaining cases involve children attending other enrichment programs or being home-schooled, and the government continues to work with partners to improve outreach and ensure access to pre-school education for disadvantaged families.

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15 Oct 2012

Ex-gratia Payments for Government Pensioners

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene raised concerns about the rising cost of living and asked if the Government would provide more regular and substantive ex-gratia payments to low-pension government pensioners.
Teo Chee Hean, for the Prime Minister, explained that government pensions are fixed, tax-exempt, and based on service length and pre-retirement salary.
The Government introduced the Singapore Allowance in 1974 to help pensioners with lower pensions cope with inflation, and it has been revised 11 times, with the latest update in 2011 setting the allowance at $260 and a gross monthly pension ceiling of $1,190.
The Government conducts regular reviews of the gross pension ceiling and will revise it as necessary.

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