Social welfare

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns regarding HDB households without direct lift access, seeking information on how HDB is addressing these needs and ensuring inclusivity for vulnerable groups. Desmond Lee responded that the Lift Upgrading Programme has successfully improved access in over 5,000 blocks, but around 2,000 flats remain without upgrades due to costs or technical challenges. HDB has explored alternative lift technologies but found many to be unsuitable for residential use or safety. Residents in need can apply for the Lift Access Housing Grant to assist with moving to flats that offer direct lift access, with a total of 60 applications received since its launch in 2020. HDB will continue to seek solutions for improving accessibility in their estates.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the potential expansion of the Flexi-MediSave scheme for outpatient medical treatment for the elderly. Ong Ye Kung explained that Singaporeans aged 60 and above can currently use Flexi-MediSave for outpatient consultations and medications, covering both acute and chronic conditions. The scheme was expanded in 2023 to include home medical and nursing services, although fewer than three in 10 eligible users reached the annual limit of $300. The Ministry will continue to review the Flexi-MediSave scheme to ensure it meets the needs of Singaporeans.

Hazel Poa sought clarification from the Minister for Manpower regarding the rationale for various elements of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme, including benefits for permanent residents, stepped-down payments over time, income caps for eligibility, and the exclusion of recent recipients. Tan See Leng indicated that this question has been addressed in a previous combined oral reply on the Order Paper for September 9, 2024.

Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the average monthly fees charged by government-supported and private preschools, the differences in government funding per child for both types of preschools, and how quality is ensured across them. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that government spending per preschool child has significantly increased, with higher expenditures for government-supported preschools and children from lower-income families. Additional funding for Anchor and Partner Operators is aimed at enhancing access to affordable preschool options, with fee caps for these operators set significantly lower than the median fees of private preschools. Plans are in place to increase the number of government-supported preschool places, targeting 80% enrollment by 2025, and initiatives for professional development and quality assurance have been established to benefit all preschools.

Ang Wei Neng inquired about the number of HDB households without direct lift access, Lift Access Housing Grant applications, and the possibility of enhancing the grant for those in urgent need. Desmond Choo asked for statistics on households affected by lift access issues and those assisted in transitioning to alternative housing. Liang Eng Hwa questioned if there would be an increase in the cost cap for the Lift Upgrading Programme and the potential for open-sourcing engineering solutions for lift accessibility. Desmond Lee noted that these questions have been addressed in a prior written response regarding lift upgrading.

The debate in the Singapore Parliament focused on the Platform Workers Bill, which aims to enhance protections for platform workers in areas such as CPF contributions, work injury compensation, and representation. Louis Ng raised concerns about the limited scope of the Bill, suggesting it should cover more types of platform services beyond delivery and ride-hailing. Ong Hua Han supported the Bill, highlighting the importance of CPF contributions for financial security and expressing concerns about potential impacts on earnings and discrimination. Mariam Jaafar emphasized the need for the Bill to account for the diverse experiences of platform workers and advocated for fair treatment and protections against harassment. Several members expressed appreciation for tripartism in developing the Bill while also proposing further considerations for future amendments. The Senior Minister of State for Manpower addressed concerns and clarified the Bill’s provisions, including regulatory measures and the need for a sustainable platform economy. Ultimately, the Bill was passed with a consensus that aims to secure better protections for platform workers while balancing the interests of all stakeholders involved.

• Member Kwek Hian Chuan Henry proposed exploring short-term repayment freezes for housing loans and insurance premiums for unemployed Singaporeans.
• Minister Tan See Leng stated that HDB homeowners can seek financial counselling for deferment or restructuring of loans, while private homeowners should approach lenders for solutions.
• The Minister added that individuals facing insurance premium difficulties can consult insurers for options like premium loans or holidays, complemented by the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme.
• He noted that the JS scheme provides temporary support but is not sized for full household financial distress, with ComCare available for those in need.

• Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for Manpower about alternative support measures for companies employing Singaporeans with special needs, beyond using foreign worker quota adjustments to address operational challenges.
• Minister Tan See Leng outlined existing support measures, including the Open Door Programme with free recruitment services, job redesign grants covering up to 90% of modification costs, and training subsidies for employers hiring persons with disabilities.
• The government also mentioned the enhanced Enabling Employment Credit providing wage support for employers hiring PwDs earning below $4,000 monthly and committed to reviewing measures to better support inclusive employment.

• Ong Hua Han proposed extending the senior citizen rate for ActiveSG sports facilities to persons with disabilities (PwDs) to boost their participation in exercise and inclusive sports.
• Edwin Tong noted that SportSG already supports PwD access through free group entries for SPED schools and agencies via the Social Service Corporate Membership scheme, which includes ActiveSG credits for facility bookings.
• SportSG has introduced various inclusive sports programmes and is working to enhance facilities for all abilities, while studying the suggestion to extend the senior citizen rate as part of efforts to promote inclusive sports.

• Joan Pereira asked when the next review of the $300 monthly basic subsidy for working mothers with Singapore citizen children in full-day childcare will be held and what factors will be considered for any increase.
• Masagos Zulkifli explained that the government regularly reviews preschool affordability and has enhanced it through other means, such as raising the income ceiling for additional subsidies and imposing fee caps on supported preschools.
• He noted that fee caps for full-day childcare at Anchor and Partner Operators were lowered in 2023, reducing household preschool expenses as a percentage of income, and further reductions are planned for 2025 and 2026.
• The government is also expanding the number of Government-supported preschool places, aiming for 80% coverage by 2025, which is seen as more effective than increasing the basic subsidy alone.
• Masagos emphasized that these broader measures have already lowered out-of-pocket expenses for most families and will continue to do so, making preschool more affordable without relying solely on subsidy adjustments.

• Mr Don Wee asked how the Ministry for Social and Family Development can better support small enterprises in hiring Singaporeans with special needs and how the effectiveness of these measures will be evaluated.
• The Government, through SG Enable, offers various supports including the Open Door Programme with job matching, job coaches, and grants covering up to 90% of job redesign costs, and the Enabling Employment Credit providing wage support up to 20% for hiring persons with disabilities.
• Additional initiatives include the Place-and-Train programme with high wage and course fee subsidies, the Enabling Business Hub at Jurong for logistics sector opportunities, and partnerships with business federations and banks to engage SMEs in inclusive hiring.
• The effectiveness of these measures is tracked through the annual Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, with a goal to increase the employment rate of persons with disabilities from 32.7% in 2022/2023 to 40% by 2030.

• Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked whether the Ministry tracks seniors who die alone at home and, if so, the number of such cases in the past year.
• The Ministry of Social and Family Development does not track these cases but works with community partners on interventions like outreach by the Silver Generation Office and support from Active Ageing Centres.
• Seniors are connected to befriending services, active ageing programmes, and activities through the People’s Association and grassroots organisations.
• Agencies like the Ministry of National Development and HDB provide alert alarm systems in certain housing to help seniors call for help during emergencies.
• The Government emphasises community involvement in looking out for seniors and will continue collaborating with partners to support them.

• The government has invested significantly in preschool education, with 95% of Singaporean children aged five to six already enrolled, and aims to increase government-supported preschool places to 80% by 2025.
• Instead of making kindergarten compulsory, the focus is on removing barriers to access by ensuring affordable and quality preschool options, including government-supported preschools and targeted subsidies for lower-income families.
• Lower-income families receive priority enrollment and can pay as low as $1 per month after subsidies, addressing practical challenges in attendance and enrollment.
• The government currently has no plans to mandate kindergarten education, as it believes the current approach of improving accessibility and affordability is sufficient.

• The government uses assessable income from the previous Year of Assessment (YA) to determine eligibility for GST Vouchers and Assurance Package payments to ensure consistency and fairness, as tax assessment data from the current year is not yet complete.
• For the 2024 GST Voucher cash payment, eligibility was based on YA 2023 income (from 2022), and the full number of Singaporeans who would qualify using YA 2024 income is not yet available because assessments are processed from April 2024 to March 2025.
• Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis for those with income changes; about 3,000 appeals for the 2024 GSTV–Cash scheme were approved by end-August 2024, while the number for the Assurance Package cash disbursement in December 2024 is not yet available.

• The Ministry of Transport is considering encouraging car rental companies to provide cars with assistive driving equipment for drivers with disabilities.
• The government has invested in accessible public transport and is working with taxi and ride-hail operators to improve transport options for persons with disabilities.
• Persons with disabilities who need private cars can apply through the Disabled Persons Scheme to register customised vehicles without paying certain fees.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired if the Open Door Programme Job Redesign Grant extends to companies hiring persons with disabilities on a part-time basis and how many have used it over five years.
• The grant supports employers hiring persons with disabilities with at least one-year contracts, regardless of part-time or full-time status.
• Over 110 organizations used the grant from 2019 to 2023, but no breakdown is available for part-time versus full-time hires.

• Around 50,000 Pioneer Generation seniors currently receive $100 monthly cash under the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme.
• The PioneerDAS is part of a broader suite of government support measures for long-term care needs, including mean-tested subsidies, insurance, grants, and MediSave top-ups.
• The government will continue to review these schemes from time to time to ensure care remains affordable for those who require it.
• No specific plans were announced to review the current $100 monthly grant quantum.

• Ms Ng Ling Ling proposed allowing family members' MediSave to cover nursing home fees for elderlies with advanced-stage dementia after subsidies, especially for sandwich families with studying children.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung outlined existing support: means-tested subsidies of up to 75% for nursing home care and 80% for home care, MediSave Care withdrawals up to $200 per month for severe disability, and long-term care insurance like ElderShield and CareShield Life.
• For those still facing financial challenges, the Minister advised applying for financial assistance through schemes like MediFund.

• The Taskforce for Developing New Community Living Models for Persons with Disabilities will release recommendations later this year to identify housing and care models for community living.
• Enabling Services Hubs are being expanded, with two more hubs launching in Jurong West and Punggol next year, following the first hub in Tampines.
• Capacity for Day Activity Centres will increase from 1,800 to 2,300 spaces by 2030, and Sheltered Workshops from 1,700 to 2,200 spaces by 2030.
• The government is working with community partners, social service agencies, caregivers, and persons with disabilities to co-create support options for inclusive living.

• Eight charities have been invited to apply to participate in the OHAS pilot from January 2025 to December 2028.
• Eligibility requires charities to have enhanced governance controls and objectives allowing support for overseas emergency humanitarian causes while still benefiting the Singapore community.
• Donors can receive 100% tax deductions for cash donations made through designated charities toward approved fundraising appeals.
• The list of designated charities will be publicly available starting January 2025.
• The scheme aims to encourage more support for overseas humanitarian assistance through tax incentives.