Social welfare

• Assoc Prof Jamus Lim inquired about the average time for decision-making and disbursement for CPF withdrawal applications under the Reduced Life Expectancy scheme.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that the CPF Board typically informs members of the outcome within 14 working days after receiving the application and medical report.
• For complex cases requiring further clarification, processing times may be longer, but approved applications are disbursed within three working days.
• The CPF Board aims to expedite processing, especially for members with terminal illnesses or advanced medical conditions, and is continually reviewing its processes for improvement.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the consideration of short-term or part-time work in the eligibility assessment for the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance, especially for those retrenched or transitioning careers.
• Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that the allowance is based on the latest 12 months of earned income data from government records.
• Income from short-term or part-time work that is recorded by the government will be included in the calculation of the Training Allowance.

• Ms. Gho Sze Kee proposed that the Ministry of Health collect data on lonely deaths to aid social agencies in planning interventions for vulnerable individuals.
• The Ministry of Health currently lacks data on the number of residents who die alone at home.
• The Ministry emphasizes the importance of outreach and befriending efforts to support seniors, particularly those living alone.
• Collaboration with community partners, including volunteers and grassroots advisers, is essential for effective intervention and support.

• Ms. Hazlina Abdul Halim inquired about the effectiveness and objectives of the Shared Stay-in Senior Care Services sandbox, particularly for seniors living alone.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung reported positive feedback from providers and clients regarding the effectiveness of the caregiving model in supporting seniors.
• The Shared Stay-in Senior Care Services sandbox, launched in 2023, aims to help seniors age in the community and will be mainstreamed by the end of 2025.
• The government plans to offer additional support to service providers, including increased foreign worker quotas and relaxed sourcing regulations.

• Dr. Choo Pei Ling inquired about the number of appeal cases since the launch of CareShield Life in 2020, their success rate, and lessons learned for improving the assessment process.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung reported that there have been three appeal cases since 2020, all of which were unsuccessful.
• The Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care are actively reviewing and improving the assessment process and scheme administration based on feedback.
• Efforts to enhance convenience for applicants include increasing the number of assessors conducting house calls and streamlining the claims application process.

• Dr. Choo Pei Ling inquired about the demographics and causes of severe disability among active CareShield Life claimants and the preventive healthcare strategies in place.
• As of June 2025, there are 2,179 active claimants, with a significant portion being younger individuals, as CareShield Life was introduced in 2020 and is optional for those born in 1979 and earlier.
• The main causes of severe disability among claimants include strokes and accidents, while chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes also contribute to gradual onset disabilities.
• National initiatives such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG aim to promote healthy lifestyles and support seniors in managing their health to prevent severe disabilities and the need for long-term care.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired about new initiatives to support senior caregivers, especially those living alone with dependents.
• Ong Ye Kung responded that the Government is enhancing support measures, including higher subsidies for long-term care and adult disability services starting next year.
• The Home Caregiving Grant will also see an increase to better assist those caring for individuals with moderate disabilities at home.
• The Silver Generation Office will continue outreach efforts to connect senior caregivers with community resources and support activities.

• Ms. Elysa Chen inquired about the tracking of data on special needs children benefiting from healthcare subsidy schemes and potential gaps in coverage.
• The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that the Ministry does not specifically track the number of special needs children receiving subsidies.
• Healthcare subsidies are allocated based on medical needs and household income, prioritizing assistance for lower-income families.

• David Hoe raised concerns about the significant disparities in medical report fees for activating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) across different hospitals.
• He suggested that the Ministry of Health should consider standardising and capping these fees to alleviate financial burdens on families.
• Hoe also proposed the idea of providing means-tested subsidies or financial assistance for families needing help with LPA activation costs.
• Ong Ye Kung explained that fees are set based on cost recovery for manpower and administrative expenses, with variations due to the complexity of cases.
• He mentioned that patients facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers at public healthcare institutions.

• Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the out-of-pocket spending for CHAS cardholders with chronic diseases, including data on spending distribution, utilization rates, and medication subsidies.
• The Ministry of Health (MOH) lacks specific data on annual out-of-pocket costs for CHAS cardholders by income decile and card tier, but noted that 14% of cardholders utilized chronic subsidies in 2024.
• MOH indicated that not all CHAS cardholders with chronic conditions use the subsidies, as some may manage care through other means.
• The ministry regularly reviews CHAS subsidies to ensure they remain adequate in light of rising healthcare costs.
• Most common chronic medications are included in the Standard Drug List and Medication Assistance Fund List.

• Shawn Loh inquired about the possibility of updating the 2015 Occasional Paper on Income Growth, Inequality, and Mobility Trends in Singapore, specifically regarding wealth inequality insights.
• Jeffrey Siow confirmed that the Government plans to update the Occasional Paper and is enhancing data collection on wealth, with findings to be shared in the future.

• The rise in malnutrition among older Singaporeans is influenced by factors such as social isolation, mental health issues, and financial constraints.
• Approximately 25% of older adults do not meet their minimum caloric requirements, and about 50% do not meet recommended protein intake, according to recent National Nutrition Surveys.
• The Ministry of Health is implementing national programs like Healthier SG and Age Well SG to address malnutrition through education, early intervention, and community support.
• Initiatives include community-based education on healthy diets, identification of at-risk seniors for early dietary advice, and financial support for accessing healthy food.
• Vulnerable seniors can receive subsidized, nutritious meals through services like Meals-on-Wheels, and community partners are encouraged to support these nutrition initiatives.

• David Hoe proposed expanding the permissible uses of Child Development Account (CDA) funds to include subsidies for enrichment classes beyond preschools and suggested applying means-testing to CDA top-ups for better support of lower-income households.
• Indranee Rajah responded that the scope of CDA use was already expanded in May to cover preschool incidental charges and optional in-school enrichment programmes, but not for external enrichment programmes to ensure funds are used for preschool-related expenses.
• The government provides broad-based CDA top-ups to assist families with child-raising costs, with additional means-tested subsidies available for lower-income families through preschool subsidies and Social Service Offices.

• Mr. Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns about ensuring that Singaporeans without fixed addresses, particularly retirees, are not excluded from government support schemes like CDC and Climate vouchers.
• Indranee Rajah confirmed that eligible Singaporeans without fixed addresses are not excluded from government schemes and can claim support based on their NRIC address.
• Households facing issues claiming CDC Vouchers due to multiple households at the same address can seek assistance at community centers with relevant documentation.
• The Climate Friendly Households Programme provides vouchers for energy-efficient appliances, but those who rent out properties are not entitled to vouchers for those properties, only for their current residence.

• Ms. Mariam Jaafar inquired about the number of children with rare diseases requiring expensive treatments and the extent of financial support available for their care.
• The Ministry of Health does not track the specific number of affected children but provides subsidies for clinically effective treatments, including those for rare diseases.
• The Rare Disease Fund offers additional financial assistance for treatments not covered by existing subsidies, with government matching donations to the fund.
• Patients with disabilities related to rare diseases can access long-term care subsidies and grants, which will be enhanced from 2026, to help with caregiving and equipment costs.
• Financially struggling families can seek help from medical social workers for additional support options like MediFund.

• Caregivers of persons with dementia face significant financial and emotional burdens, averaging over 200 hours and $2,000 monthly in care costs after subsidies.
• The government is enhancing long-term care subsidies and grants for dementia care, with initiatives like the Caregiver Support Network to assist caregivers.
• There is a need for better dissemination of information about available resources for caregivers, especially for those who are less digitally savvy.
• Respite care options are available for caregivers, including day care services and nursing home respite, but the sustainability of these resources is a concern as dementia cases rise.
• The government is committed to monitoring healthcare expenditure and ensuring that support for caregivers and persons with dementia remains effective and sustainable.

• Ms. Yeo Wan Ling raised concerns about delayed or missing CPF contributions for platform workers when they switch platforms, highlighting that workers may not receive contributions for up to two months.
• The Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Shawn Huang, acknowledged initial issues with CPF contributions due to administrative errors but stated that overall collection has been smooth since the enactment of the Platform Workers Act.
• Yeo suggested that the Ministry should consider mandating CPF contributions from the first month of work and providing back payments for affected workers.
• Huang explained that the onboarding process for new platform operators complicates timely contributions, as they need to verify workers' opt-in statuses, and a cut-off date is applied to balance operational ease and contribution accuracy.
• The Ministry is engaging with platform operators to improve the efficiency of the current arrangements while considering the practicalities for both workers and operators.

Dr. Tan See Leng, the Minister for Manpower, addressed concerns about the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) coverage, emphasizing that the framework is continuously reviewed to balance sustainability, affordability, and benefit adequacy for members. He noted that about 75% of those with lapsed coverage are aged over 55, many of whom are not currently working or were previously self-employed, affecting their ability to pay premiums. Approximately 40% of those whose coverage lapsed by the end of 2022 have since reinstated or acquired new coverage. Overall, over two million Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are currently covered under the DPS, with 86% of active CPF members aged 21 to 65 having coverage.

David Hoe asked if the People's Association would review the eligibility rules for CDC vouchers for Singaporeans living in nursing homes, noting their shared institutional address may prevent them from receiving vouchers. Edwin Tong Chun Fai responded that each Singaporean household can only claim one set of CDC vouchers per tranche, which may exclude some residents due to shared addresses or non-residential registration. The CDCs are collaborating with the Ministry of Health to help eligible residents in nursing homes obtain the necessary documentation to claim their vouchers. Efforts will continue to assist eligible residents in accessing benefits and support.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about policies to uplift lower-wage workers and address wage gaps with medium-income workers, specifically seeking wage targets at various percentiles and compliance rates with lower-wage recommendations. Tan See Leng noted the Ministry of Manpower's commitment to narrowing the wage gap, reporting a cumulative rise of 6.3% in real gross monthly income for the 20th percentile from 2021 to 2024, exceeding the median worker's increase of 3.2%. The tripartite partners have not established specific wage targets for percentile workers but do publish compliance rates with lower-wage recommendations in their annual reports.