Social welfare — Topics

2 Aug 2022

Adjustments to CPF Interest Rates Given Inflation

Members asked whether CPF interest rates should be raised to offset high inflation and questioned the formula used for the Ordinary Account, including the banks and parameters considered.
The Minister explained that CPF rates are pegged to market returns, with Ordinary Account rates based on major local banks’ averages and Special/MediSave/Retirement Account rates tied to 10-year Singapore Government Securities plus 1%, with floor rates ensuring minimum returns.
The Minister highlighted that despite low market rates, the government has maintained higher floor rates since 2008, providing risk-free interest up to 5% for those below 55 and 6% for those 55 and above, with periodic reviews to avoid fluctuations.
A supplementary question raised whether the government would consider granting extra interest in light of inflation and reviewing the 1999 formula for Ordinary Account rates, given changes in bank deposit structures.
The Minister responded that CPF focuses on long-term security, promotional bank rates often have conditions, and the current framework ensures fair, risk-free returns, with ongoing annual and quarterly reviews.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Workers Unable to Meet CPF Basic Retirement Sum and Forecasted Numbers in Next 10 to 20 Years

About 33% of active CPF members who turned 55 in 2021, or 13,300 individuals, had not met their Basic Retirement Sum (BRS).
The government provides support through schemes like Silver Support, Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, and housing options to help members meet retirement needs.
Forecasting BRS attainment beyond the next few years is difficult due to variables like employment income and voluntary top-ups.
BRS attainment is improving, with an expected 20% of active CPF members turning 55 in 2027 likely to fall short, down from 33% in 2021.
No specific forecasts for 10 or 20 years were provided due to the challenges in projecting long-term CPF balances accurately.

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1 Aug 2022

Statistics on 2022 CDC Vouchers Claimed, Redeemed and Utilised and Measures to Benefit Specific Businesses or Segments of Singaporeans

86.8% of Singaporean households, or 1.06 million, claimed their 2022 CDC vouchers as of 19 July 2022, with about $62 million spent at over 17,700 participating hawkers and merchants.
A total of more than $163 million has been spent using the 2021 and 2022 CDC vouchers, with $27 million (16.6%) utilized in 2,800 stalls across 677 coffee shops.
The CDC Vouchers Scheme supports both households with daily expenses and businesses, with ongoing efforts to onboard more heartland merchants and hawkers to widen benefits.
The government is encouraged by positive feedback on the scheme’s ease of use and its role in boosting heartland merchant and hawker businesses.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Malay Households Attaining Home Ownership under Project Dian@M³ Since Its Inception

Since Project Dian@M³ began in December 2021, no Malay households have yet attained home ownership under the scheme, as all engaged families are still working towards this goal.
The project has reached 170 out of 252 Malay/Muslim families across three zones: 49 in Bedok, 72 in Geylang Serai, and 49 in Jalan Besar.
The initiative provides wrap-around support by linking families with community and national programmes to address challenges like employment, family issues, and health, aiming to eventually help them purchase their own HDB flats.

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1 Aug 2022

Enhancements to Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund to Include Mid-life Servicing Costs for Devices

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Health if the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) can be enhanced to cover mid-life servicing costs for devices not near their end-of-life.
The Ministry of Health highlighted that SMF was enhanced in February 2022 to subsidize device replacements when they reach the end of their lifespan.
For devices not at end-of-life, SMF can already cover replacements or cost-effective repairs on a case-by-case basis.

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1 Aug 2022

Outcome of Pilot WHEELS Programme Providing Wheelchair Servicing at Selected Senior Activity Centres

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the pilot WHEELS programme providing wheelchair servicing at Senior Activity Centres is ongoing and if it will be rolled out nationwide.
The WHEELS programme ended in March 2020 after struggling with insufficient volunteers to meet demand across 13 centres.
The government has enhanced the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund to subsidize wheelchair replacements and cost-effective repairs on a case-by-case basis.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Singaporeans Required to Top-up Cash for Medical Expenses After Reaching MediSave Withdrawal Limit

Foo Mee Har asked for the number of Singaporeans who must top up cash after hitting MediSave limits and their average account balance.
Ong Ye Kung stated that data on balances for those incurring cash out-of-pocket is not readily available.
He noted that MediSave limits are largely adequate, with most patients not needing extra cash after subsidies and insurance.
For example, about nine in ten patients using MediSave for chronic disease management did not reach their annual limit.
He added that patients facing financial difficulties can apply for assistance like MediFund at public institutions.

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1 Aug 2022

Factors Determining Duration of ComCare Assistance Offered to Residents in Need

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked how the Ministry determines the duration of ComCare assistance for residents in need.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that Social Service Offices assess the household's need for stabilization and factors like employment prospects, family support, and future income.
ComCare Long Term Assistance is for those permanently unable to work, while Short-to-Medium Term Assistance is typically granted for three to six months and renewable based on ongoing needs.
Assistance duration can be adjusted during renewal by reviewing recent circumstances, including new sources of support or income.

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1 Aug 2022

Applications for Infant Care and Childcare Subsidies Under Special Approval Framework

The Special Approval framework allows non-working parents due to extenuating circumstances to receive childcare subsidy rates equivalent to working parents, with about 10,000 applications annually and a 95% approval rate.
Families in public rental flats or receiving Comcare support are automatically eligible for maximum preschool subsidies until the next assessment point, irrespective of the mother’s employment status, with this provision unchanged.
The Minister confirmed no policy changes to the automatic eligibility for maximum subsidies for these households based on the mother’s working status.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Singaporeans Who Received GST Vouchers in 2021 but Not 2022

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked how many Singaporeans who received GST Vouchers in 2021 did not receive them in 2022.
Lawrence Wong stated that about 88,000 Singaporeans who received GST Vouchers in 2021 will not receive them in 2022 due to changes in income, property, overseas relocation, or death.
About 218,000 Singaporeans are newly eligible for GST Vouchers in 2022 because of enhanced eligibility criteria, including a higher income threshold.
Overall, 130,000 more Singaporeans will receive GST Vouchers in 2022 compared to 2021.

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1 Aug 2022

Absenteeism Rate of Preschool Children in Bottom 20% of Socioeconomic Groups by Age and Ethnicity

Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for absenteeism rates among preschool children in the bottom 20% of socioeconomic groups, broken down by age and ethnicity.
The Minister, Masagos Zulkifli, stated that preschools are not required to submit detailed attendance records to ECDA, so the requested specific data is unavailable.
Available data from a major Anchor Operator shows lower-income children have about 10 percentage points lower attendance rates than their peers.
Programmes like KidSTART and Community Link work with preschools to support lower-income families and address barriers to regular attendance.
ECDA is collaborating with Anchor Operators to implement regular submission of attendance records for all enrolled children as part of ongoing efforts.

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1 Aug 2022

Eligible Children whose Parents Have Not Enrolled Them in KidSTART Programme

KidSTART has supported about 4,300 children since its 2016 pilot, with preliminary outcomes showing better preschool attendance and increased confidence among participants.
Of approximately 7,000 eligible families contacted since 2016, an average of 60% enrolled in KidSTART, while others declined due to not seeing a need or facing commitment difficulties.
The programme will expand from 2023 to cover all 24 Social Service Office regions in Singapore, with outreach conducted through hospitals, community, preschools, and social service agencies.

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1 Aug 2022

Use of Per Capita Annual Value of Homes as Basis for Assistance Packages to Offset Cost of Living

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked whether future cost-of-living assistance could use the per capita annual value of homes to better support larger families in non-HDB flats.
Lawrence Wong explained that social support schemes are means-tested using criteria like per capita household income, while annual value serves as a proxy for wealth and family support, with appeals possible for borderline cases.
Some support measures, such as recent utility credits and CDC vouchers, are not means-tested and provided to all households.
The government will continue reviewing assistance criteria for appropriateness and fiscal sustainability, prioritizing those with greater need.

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1 Aug 2022

Energy Supply Situation in Singapore Given Global Competition for Liquefied Natural Gas Supply

Gan Kim Yong addressed concerns about Singapore’s energy supply, noting that volatile global LNG prices due to the Ukraine conflict and seasonal demand have impacted electricity costs, with Singapore relying on imported natural gas for 95% of its electricity.
Measures such as the Standby LNG Facility, fuel stockpiling, and the Temporary Electricity Contracting Support Scheme have stabilized energy prices and ensured supply resilience, with these measures extended until March 2023.
The government is providing financial support to households and businesses, including doubled GST Voucher-U-Save rebates, a $100 Household Utilities Credit, and energy efficiency grants for SMEs, to help manage higher electricity costs.

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1 Aug 2022

Reviewing Qualifying Criteria So That Silver Support Scheme Benefits More Needy Seniors

The Silver Support Scheme provides quarterly cash supplements to seniors with lower lifetime wages, limited family support, and assessed housing type, and has been enhanced with higher payouts and expanded eligibility, increasing recipients to one in three seniors this year with annual payouts near $600 million.
Eligibility is automatically reviewed each year, with notifications sent in December via mail with infographics in four languages, and information is also disseminated through Community Centres and Silver Generation Ambassadors to ensure clear communication.
For seniors who lose eligibility, they are notified in advance and receive a two-quarter stepdown payment to ease the transition, and the CPF Board considers appeals if seniors face difficulties after support is withdrawn.

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1 Aug 2022

Causes of Time Lags in Data Used to Determine Eligibility for GSTV – U-Save Rebates

The time lag in determining eligibility for GSTV – U-Save rebates occurred because of delays in updating citizens' living status, such as death records, due to legal processing times, affecting about 3,100 households.
The Ministry of Finance has commenced recovery of rebates from ineligible households and is working with data agencies to tighten processes to use the latest data for future disbursements.
Eligibility is fixed at a cut-off date, and households that become eligible later will be included in subsequent rebates, with no system flaws found that would cause eligible households to miss out.
Some households may experience delays in rebate crediting for utility bills, and the Ministry encourages reporting such cases for investigation and resolution.
Steps are being taken to prevent recurrence, but sensitivity to families and practical constraints mean time lags may still occur, with recovery efforts ongoing as soon as possible.

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5 Jul 2022

Higher MediSave Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Care Treatment for Patients with Complex Chronic Conditions

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry of Health to consider raising the MediSave withdrawal limit for outpatient care for patients with complex chronic conditions due to rising living costs.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that current MediSave withdrawal limits are adequate for most patients, as the majority do not reach the existing annual cap under the Chronic Disease Management Programme.
The Minister mentioned that patients facing financial difficulties can apply for other assistance schemes like MediFund at public healthcare institutions.
The Ministry of Health will continue to regularly review financing schemes to ensure healthcare affordability amid rising costs.

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5 Jul 2022

Breakdown of Infant Care and Childcare Subsidies Received by Children in Last Three Years by Subsidy Category

In the last three years, the number of children receiving Basic Subsidies for infant and childcare rose from about 107,000 in 2019 to 126,000 in 2021, with around 95% going to families with working mothers.
The percentage of families receiving Additional Subsidies increased from about 35% in 2019 to around 60% in 2020 and 2021 after the income ceiling was raised to $12,000 per month.
In 2021, the median Additional Subsidy was $380 for full-day infant care and $260 for full-day childcare, with maximum amounts of up to $710 and $467 respectively.

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5 Jul 2022

Median Income and Employment Rate for Persons with Disabilities over Last 10 Years

The employment rate for persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 rose from 28.2% (2018-2019) to 30.1% (2020-2021), while median gross monthly income increased by 4% nominally (2.7% inflation-adjusted) from $2,630 to $2,735.
The Open Door Programme placed over 3,500 persons with disabilities in employment between 2014 and 2021, with additional support from grants, training, and new pandemic-era programmes creating close to 300 job and training opportunities.
The government provides wage offsets, accreditation schemes, and incentives to employers, such as the Enabling Employment Credit supporting over 9,700 persons with disabilities in 2021 and the Jobs Growth Incentive aiding more than 3,400 between 2020 and 2021.
The Ministry for Social and Family Development aims to continue expanding training and employment accessibility for persons with disabilities through collaborative efforts with public agencies and community partners.

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5 Jul 2022

Success of Soft Launch of FoodConnect Directory and Database

Ms He Ting Ru asked for the number of households signed up, community groups registered, and success metrics for the FoodConnect directory and database.
The FoodConnect Directory lists 25 organisations, including seven new ones onboarded after the soft launch, and helps match families to food support based on location and dietary needs.
The FoodConnect Database contains data for about 500 households served by four organisations, with 14 more organisations interested in joining.
Success will be measured over time by tracking onboarding and usage of the systems to reduce duplication and food wastage.

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