Social welfare — Topics

20 Oct 2022

Circumstances for Inclusion of More Efficacious Medicine in Rare Disease Fund

The Rare Disease Fund (RDF) evaluates treatments based on their effectiveness in extending lifespan and improving quality of life, considering the unique nature of each rare disease and the limited fund size.
The RDF Committee already uses a tiered support model to determine the amount of financing support for each approved treatment, balancing efficacy and cost.
The Government encourages public donations to the RDF, which are matched three-for-one and eligible for enhanced tax deductions, to help cover more expensive, efficacious medicines.

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20 Oct 2022

Proportion of Private Home Residents Located within Eldercare Centre Service Boundary

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health about the proportion of private home residents, including cash-poor elderly in long-owned properties, currently and projected to be within eldercare centre service boundaries, with a specific query on the Serangoon Gardens estate.
Ong Ye Kung responded that about 17% of seniors in private housing estates are currently within Active Ageing Centre (AAC) service boundaries, with plans to more than double this proportion by 2025 through expanding to 220 AACs.
The Minister confirmed there is currently no AAC for Serangoon Gardens, but MOH is expanding AAC coverage to include seniors in that estate.

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20 Oct 2022

More Support for Elderly Caregivers

Christopher de Souza requested more support for elderly caregivers, especially those caring for family members alone.
The government outlined initiatives like Healthier SG to promote senior health and Active Ageing Centres to build social networks and community support.
Financial aid was highlighted, including an increased Home Caregiving Grant and the Silver Support Scheme for low-income seniors.
The Enabling Masterplan 2030 aims to improve respite and support services for caregivers of persons with disabilities through pilot hubs.
Caregivers are directed to the Agency for Integrated Care for further assistance and information.

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20 Oct 2022

Provision of Evening Care for Adults with Disabilities to Relieve Caregivers Who Are Elderly Parents

Christopher de Souza proposed evening care for adults with disabilities to give elderly caregivers time to rest.
MSF funds 32 Day Activity Centres offering full-day or part-day programmes until 5:00 pm, providing respite and skills training.
Overnight respite care is available at Adult Disability Homes for caregivers facing urgent needs.
Eligible caregivers can apply for a Migrant Domestic Worker Levy Concession to reduce hiring costs for additional help.

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20 Oct 2022

Systems in Place for Adults with Disabilities without Caregiver Support

The Ministry for Social and Family Development provides immediate accommodation and financial support through Adult Disability Homes and ComCare assistance when a sole caregiver is unable to care for an adult with disabilities.
Caregivers are encouraged to plan for future financial needs through tools like the Special Needs Trust Company and the Special Needs Savings Scheme, which offer guaranteed funds and regular CPF payouts.
The Assisted Deputyship Application Programme (ADAP) helps caregivers secure legal guardianship for adults with disabilities, enabling them to make decisions about welfare and finances after the dependent turns 21.
Future initiatives under the Enabling Masterplan 2030 include developing a Future Care Planning Playbook to assist caregivers in creating comprehensive care plans for their dependents.
Information on these support systems is regularly shared with caregivers through briefings at special education schools, day activity centres, and sheltered workshops.

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20 Oct 2022

Subsidies for Dedicated Transport Service Providers to Purchase Special Needs Vehicles

Dr Shahira Abdullah queried if purchases of special needs vehicles have increased and if subsidies exist for providers to buy them.
The number of new registrations of wheelchair-accessible vehicles has stayed stable at about 70 per year over the past five years, with around 1,000 such vehicles registered as of September 2022.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development administers a COE Grant Scheme to subsidize COE and Additional Registration Fee costs for commercial vehicles used to transport seniors and Persons with Disabilities who cannot use public transport unassisted.

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20 Oct 2022

Public Transport Commuters with Special Needs Issued with Caring SG Commuters Lanyard and Card

More than 3,200 Caring SG Commuters lanyards and cards have been distributed as of September 2022 to help commuters with invisible conditions discreetly request a seat, with positive feedback received since the initiative's launch in April 2021.
The number of commuters with disabilities using the Persons with Disabilities Concession Card has risen from 8,375 in 2014 to 14,152 in 2022, reflecting an increase in commuters with special needs.
All public transport staff receive training to assist commuters with special needs, and infrastructure has been enhanced to ensure wheelchair accessibility across buses, trains, stations, and interchanges.
The Land Transport Authority and public transport operators plan to continue collaborating to improve the Caring SG Commuters initiative.

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20 Oct 2022

Review of Payouts to Retirees on Government Pension Schemes Given Rising Cost of Living

Members of Parliament asked if pension payouts for retirees should be reviewed to address rising living costs and inflation.
The Government explained that pensions are fixed based on service and salary, but provides the Singapore Allowance to counter inflation, with the latest increase of $30 in September 2022.
Regular reviews are conducted on the Singapore Allowance and pension ceiling, and retirees also receive additional support like GST vouchers and other rebates.

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20 Oct 2022

Affordability of Wheelchair-accessible Vehicular Services

The Ministry of Transport aims to ensure an inclusive transport system, noting that all public buses and trains, as well as many point-to-point and taxi services, are wheelchair-accessible.
Financial support is available through various schemes, including concessionary fares for public transport and subsidies for private transport services like taxis and dedicated vehicles for persons with disabilities.
The government provides a COE Grant Scheme for non-profit organisations to subsidize the cost of commercial vehicles used to transport elderly or disabled clients who cannot use public transport unassisted.

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20 Oct 2022

Pilot of Childminding Service for Low-income Parents

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development for an update on the pilot childminding service partnership with Daughters Of Tomorrow, the number of single unwed parents using it, and if it can be scaled up.
The Ministry is running the pilot with Daughters Of Tomorrow at Bedok and Punggol Community Link for low-income families in rental housing with children aged three to nine needing care outside standard childcare hours.
As of end-September 2022, 30 potential childminders and 13 families have expressed interest, with two families using the service since August, including one headed by a single unwed parent.
The Ministry is matching childminders to remaining families and using the pilot to assess the feasibility of the service model for potential scaling.

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20 Oct 2022

Seniors who Succeed in Obtaining Subsidies for Rehabilitative Physiotherapy Sessions

The average pre-subsidy fee for rehabilitative physiotherapy sessions in subsidised community care organisations is about $95 per session.
Approximately 80% of seniors receiving such services in 2021 benefited from means-tested subsidies of up to 80%.
The Ministry of Health does not have data on the number of seniors who discontinue sessions due to financial difficulties.
Seniors facing financial hardship can apply for discretionary assistance, such as MediFund, to help cover rehabilitation costs.

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20 Oct 2022

Preparing Singapore for Dementia

The debate highlighted Singapore's urgent need to prepare for a projected 65% increase in dementia cases by 2030, stressing the economic and caregiving burdens on families and society.
A government minister outlined a three-pronged strategy focusing on prevention, capacity-building for care services, and enhanced caregiver support, including community initiatives and dementia-friendly infrastructure.
The speaker proposed strengthening medical and community capacity, such as more memory clinics, trained specialists, and assisted living models, while urging faster dementia-friendly designs in public estates.
The government response confirmed measures like expanding dementia day care places, financial subsidies for caregiving, and collaboration with businesses to make Singapore more dementia-inclusive.
Both sides emphasized the importance of early detection, healthy lifestyles to reduce risk, and societal compassion to support persons with dementia and their caregivers.

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20 Oct 2022

Budget Spent on Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation Packages

The Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation Packages have disbursed $3.04 billion and $0.72 billion respectively as of March 2022, with substantial remaining balances in the dedicated funds.
Approximately 450,000 Pioneer Generation and 500,000 Merdeka Generation seniors have benefited since the packages began, with around 340,000 and 480,000 still alive as of September 2022.
The government has enhanced benefits for both packages and will top up the funds if necessary to meet future commitments, while noting that the Silver Support scheme has a different objective and will be reviewed separately.

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5 Oct 2022

Qualifying Criteria for Merchants’ Enrollment in CDC Vouchers Scheme

The CDC Vouchers Scheme targets heartland merchants and hawkers in trades like F&B, minimarts, household retail, and salons, with registration via CDC websites, associations, or SME Centres, followed by an on-site assessment by CDC Ambassadors.
Over 18,000 merchants and hawkers have been enrolled since the scheme's launch in December 2021, with ongoing efforts to expand participation.
The Minister did not specify the number of unsuccessful merchant applications, focusing instead on enrollment numbers and eligibility criteria.

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5 Oct 2022

Assessing Sufficiency of Financial Support for Those Deemed Medically Unfit for Employment

Minister Masagos Zulkifli stated that MSF regularly reviews ComCare assistance schemes to ensure support adequacy, citing recent increases in ComCare Long-Term and Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance from August 2022.
He questioned why households with medically unfit individuals would have different expenditure needs compared to unemployed but medically fit households, noting that specific medical expenses are considered during SSO assessments.

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5 Oct 2022

Low Take-up Rate for Climate-Friendly Households Programme

Leon Perera questioned whether the $150 e-voucher for energy-efficient refrigerators could be increased due to higher costs and suggested expanding the programme to cover items like bicycles.
The Ministry responded that the voucher amount was based on market surveys to cover the average incremental cost of efficient appliances and that outreach efforts are underway to improve take-up rates.
The programme, targeting low-income HDB households, will be reviewed after its December 2023 end date, with consideration given to extending it to more appliances, including non-electrical ones like bicycles.

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5 Oct 2022

Universal Concept for HDB Flats Built before 2006

Jessica Tan asked if the Universal Design concept, applied to HDB flats built from 2006, could be incorporated into older flats built before 2006 to better support seniors and residents with mobility challenges, and whether there are plans to do so.
The Minister of State responded that universal design principles are already incorporated into older blocks during upgrading, with programmes like the Lift Upgrading Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme providing features such as ramps and resting points, while residents can also install grab bars and ramps under the Home Improvement Programme and Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) scheme.
Jessica Tan raised supplementary questions about addressing unevenness from scupper drains in older void decks and enhancing the EASE programme to include wider doorways and other features to accommodate wheelchairs more effectively.
The Minister of State acknowledged the feedback on scupper drains and noted that the EASE programme is being reviewed to explore additional items that enhance safety and mobility for seniors, considering the ageing population and future needs.

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4 Oct 2022

Prevalence of Practice of "Special Account (SA) Shielding" by CPF Members

Minister Tan See Leng noted that around 2% of CPF members turning 55 in 2021 practiced "SA shielding" by investing their Special Account savings shortly before age 55 and liquidating after, to prevent funds from flowing into the Retirement Account.
He emphasized that such investments carry costs and risks, including transaction fees and potential losses, and cautioned that financial advisers promoting this without full disclosure may be guilty of mis-selling.
The Ministry will continue monitoring the trend and may take action if necessary, while reiterating the importance of understanding the risks involved.

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4 Oct 2022

Appeals for Inclusion Under Silver Support Scheme in Last Three Years

Sylvia Lim inquired about the grounds for successful appeals, inclusion of non-auto-qualified seniors, and reasons for omission under the Silver Support Scheme in the last three years.
Tan See Leng explained that Silver Support automatically qualifies eligible seniors through annual assessments, with appeals only for those whose circumstances change after assessment.
Successful appeals averaged 4,000 annually from 2019 to 2021, under 2% of recipients, due to changes like moving residences, children leaving, or household employment shifts.

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4 Oct 2022

Update on Study into Making CPF Contributions Mandatory for Platform Workers

The Advisory Committee on Platform Workers is engaging with workers and companies to consider mandatory CPF contributions for platform workers.
While many platform workers support mandatory contributions for retirement and housing, some worry about reduced take-home pay, and companies are concerned about higher business costs.
The Committee will continue thorough discussions with both parties and aims to complete its work by the end of the year.

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