Social welfare — Topics

4 Jul 2022

Interim Rental Fee Subsidy for Families in Financial Hardship who have to Rent Accommodation in Open Market

Member of Parliament Carrie Tan inquired whether the Ministry of Social and Family Development would introduce an interim rental subsidy for low-income families facing hardship while waiting for a subsidized HDB rental flat.
The Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, responded that Social Service Offices (SSOs) already provide flexibility and assistance with rental expenses for families who must rent from the open market while awaiting a public rental flat.
The Minister noted that in cases of exceptional hardship, such as medical conditions, HDB can assess and expedite the allocation of a rental flat to the family.

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4 Jul 2022

Insights on Anonymised Data of Community Development Council Digital Voucher Usage for Targeted Support to Lower-income Households

Edward Chia asked for insights on anonymised CDC digital voucher usage data, how CDCs plan to use these insights to target support for lower-income households, and how the data and system can support social agency partners’ voucher schemes.
Minister Edwin Tong stated the CDC Vouchers Scheme was launched to support households and heartland merchants during the pandemic, with no need to collect household income data as it is open to all Singaporean households.
High uptake and spending were reported: 96% of eligible households claimed 2021 vouchers with 80.3% spent, and 83% claimed 2022 vouchers with 40.2% spent within two months.
The digital voucher system uses GovTech’s RedeemSG platform, which can be adopted by other government agencies interested in similar schemes.

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4 Jul 2022

Flexible Lease Options for Replacement Flats Offered to Older Residents under Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme

Hany Soh asked if HDB could allow seniors affected by the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to buy replacement flats with shorter, flexible leases.
Desmond Lee explained that SERS provides fresh 99-year lease replacement flats with subsidies, compensation, and priority options, but seniors have expressed a preference for similar-sized flats without topping up for a long lease.
In response to feedback, MND and HDB introduced two new options: 50-year lease replacement flats for eligible residents and allowing seniors to apply for the Lease Buyback Scheme before purchasing a short-lease replacement flat.
These options are being rolled out starting with the Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 SERS site announced in April 2022.

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4 Jul 2022

Flexible Leases and Payment Methods for Replacement Flats Offered under Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme

The government provides SERS residents with compensation based on market value, a $30,000 SERS grant, a $10,000 removal allowance, and replacement flats with fresh 99-year leases at subsidized prices, plus priority allocation for BTO or SBF flats and an additional $30,000 for resale flat purchases.
For elderly residents aged 55 and above, options include 2-room Flexi flats with short leases, and new measures such as 50-year lease replacement flats at the same site and the Lease Buyback Scheme for existing SERS flats, allowing seniors to secure suitable housing without unnecessary long leases.
These flexible lease and payment options are being implemented starting with the Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 SERS site to address residents' concerns about affordability and suitability, particularly for seniors who prefer familiar surroundings and do not need long leases.

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4 Jul 2022

Assistance for Residents Facing Difficulty Financing Replacement Flats Offered under Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme

Residents facing difficulty financing replacement flats under the SERS can receive a compensation package that includes market-value compensation, a $30,000 SERS grant, and a $10,000 removal allowance to help purchase a new 99-year lease replacement flat or another housing option.
HDB provides alternative housing choices, such as applying for BTO or Sale of Balance Flats with a 10% priority allocation, purchasing resale flats with an extra $30,000 grant, or buying 2-room Flexi flats for those aged 55 and above.
For the Ang Mo Kio SERS exercise, flat owners can generally afford a similar replacement flat with the compensation, but new options include 50-year lease flats for seniors who do not need a full 99-year lease and the Lease Buyback Scheme for existing flats.
These additional measures, starting with the Ang Mo Kio site, are designed to address feedback from residents, especially seniors, who prefer familiar surroundings and a replacement flat of similar size without topping up for a long lease.

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4 Jul 2022

Proposal to Change Lease Term of Replacement Flats under Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme to Increase Affordability for Some Residents

Hazel Poa asked the Ministry for National Development to consider changing the lease term of replacement flats under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to help residents facing financing difficulties.
Desmond Lee explained that SERS provides compensation, grants, and fresh 99-year lease replacement flats, but acknowledged seniors' concerns about not needing a long lease and wanting similar-sized flats in familiar areas.
The Ministry announced two new options: offering 3-room or larger flats on a 50-year lease at replacement sites, and allowing eligible seniors to use the Lease Buyback Scheme for their existing flat before buying a short-lease replacement flat.
These measures will be implemented starting with the Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 SERS site, aiming to provide more affordability and flexibility for residents.
The response emphasizes that current SERS compensation and subsidies are generally sufficient, but the new options address specific concerns of seniors and other residents.

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4 Jul 2022

Annual Preschool Enrolment of Children Aged Three as a Percentage of Each Cohort Size and Socio-economic Background in Last Five Years

Over the past five years, preschool enrolment for children aged three to four has risen, with nine in ten Singaporean children in this age group enrolled in 2021, up from eight in ten in 2017, though participation among lower-income families remains below the national average.
The government provides targeted support for lower-income families, including automatic eligibility for maximum preschool subsidies and low monthly fees at Anchor Operator preschools, while outreach programs like KidSTART and Preschool Outreach help address barriers to enrolment.
The government maintains its stance against making preschool education mandatory, preferring to focus on improving access, affordability, and quality of preschool services, along with proactive outreach to encourage enrolment, especially among disadvantaged children.

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4 Jul 2022

Ensuring Equitable Outcomes in Housing Redevelopment

Nadia Ahmad Samdin highlighted the financial and emotional challenges faced by SERS-affected residents in Ang Mo Kio, emphasizing concerns over high top-up costs for replacement flats and the need for more flexible options to avoid dipping into retirement savings.
Residents are particularly worried about the mismatch between the valuation of their older flats and the price of new ones, with many seniors unable to secure loans and facing stressful decisions about downgrading or relocating.
HDB announced new rehousing options, including a 50-year lease alternative for seniors and extended Lease Buyback Scheme eligibility, to provide more affordability and reduce the financial burden for older residents.
Minister Desmond Lee acknowledged the unique challenges of older flats in SERS exercises, committing to individual engagement with residents and ensuring ample time for decision-making, while maintaining that compensation principles remain unchanged.
The debate underscored the need to balance redevelopment for future generations with equitable support for current residents, with calls for further review of subsidies, resale levy waivers, and flat mix considerations to ensure fair outcomes.

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4 Jul 2022

Impact of Rising Inflation on Planned GST Increase and Related Financial Offset Measures

The government will proceed with the planned GST increase in January 2023, stating that postponing it would create a structural funding gap for healthcare and social spending, but has allocated a $6.6 billion Assurance Package to offset household impacts for five to ten years.
A $1.5 billion support package was introduced to provide targeted relief for lower-income and vulnerable groups, including cash payouts, utilities rebates, and enhanced wage support for lower-wage workers, while monetary policy continues to curb imported inflation.
Officials emphasized fiscal responsibility, noting that one-off revenue gains from property and vehicle transactions cannot fund long-term needs, and committed to monitoring inflation closely and enhancing support measures if the situation worsens.

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4 Jul 2022

Singapore's Economic Outlook Given Rising Inflation and Government's Plans to Assist Businesses and Singaporeans

The Minister of State highlighted that global supply disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have driven significant inflation in Singapore, with core and headline inflation expected to average 2.5-3.5% and 4.5-5.5% respectively in 2022, but to moderate by year-end, while affirming that the economy is not expected to face a recession or stagflation in 2023 despite global risks.
The government is addressing the challenging environment through three key measures: maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment with a tighter monetary policy, providing immediate relief via a $1.5 billion support package for lower-income and vulnerable groups, and continuing to attract investments and create jobs to combat inflation.
Economic growth remains resilient with GDP expanding 3.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, and the economy is operating slightly above potential with a mild positive output gap, though labour shortages and cost pressures persist but are expected to ease as non-resident worker inflows resume.
The Ministry is confident in achieving its 3-5% GDP growth forecast for 2022, with above-trend growth expected to continue, while closely monitoring external risks and implementing measures to support businesses and households in managing borrowing costs and cost-of-living challenges.

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9 May 2022

Update on Utilisation of CDC Vouchers and Heartland Merchants On board CDC Vouchers Scheme

As of end-March 2022, over 15,000 hawkers and heartland merchants have onboarded the CDC Vouchers Scheme, with about 1.12 million households claiming vouchers and more than $72 million spent at participating merchants.
The CDC Vouchers Scheme uses the RedeemSG platform, a general-purpose system designed to support various government campaigns and make digital voucher redemption easy for merchants and recipients.
The RedeemSG platform is being developed to accommodate a wider range of uses, including by government agencies, charities, and for philanthropic purposes, potentially allowing e-vouchers to be distributed to heartland shops.

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9 May 2022

Avenues to Verify Collection of Donations on Purported Religious Grounds and Safeguards Available for Public to Raise Concerns if Collections are Not Used Legitimately

Donors are encouraged to use the "Ask, Check, Give" approach to verify charitable appeals, which includes asking fund-raisers about the purpose of donations, checking the Charity Portal for registration, and giving only after ensuring the cause is legitimate.
The Commissioner of Charities regulates all fundraising appeals in Singapore, and the public can report concerns about non-legitimate use of donations to the COC or file a police report if fraud is suspected.
For specific religious collections like zakat, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) manages the process, and the public can refer to MUIS's official website for authorised collection centres and security advisories.

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9 May 2022

Number and Proportion of Public Rental Flat Applicants above Age of 60

Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the number and proportion of senior applicants above 60 for public rental flats between 2020 and 2022.
Minister Desmond Lee reported that from January 2020 to March 2022, about 1,850 senior applicants were approved.
This figure represented approximately 26% of all approved public rental applicants during that period.

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9 May 2022

Total Amount of Quarantine Order Allowance Distributed to Affected Persons since 2 November 2021

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Health for the total amount of Quarantine Order Allowance distributed since 2 November 2021.
Ong Ye Kung responded that between 2 November 2021 and 30 April 2022, $19.35 million was distributed to eligible applicants under the Quarantine Order Allowance Scheme.
The figure covers the period specified and reflects payments made to affected persons under the scheme.
The response confirms the total amount distributed within the timeframe without further breakdowns or additional details.

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9 May 2022

Average Preschool Enrolment Rate of Families Residing in HDB Public Rental Flats Compared with National Average Enrolment Rate

In each of the past five years, the preschool enrolment rate for children aged three to four from HDB public rental flats was about 80%, slightly below the national average of 88%, while for children aged five to six it was comparable at around 95%.
The Ministry is enhancing subsidies and outreach programmes, such as KidSTART and Preschool Outreach, to automatically provide maximum preschool subsidies to families under public rental and ComCare schemes, making full-day childcare available for $3 per month at Anchor Operator preschools.
Instead of making preschool education compulsory, the Ministry focuses on ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality preschool services with targeted assistance for lower-income families to address practical barriers to enrolment.

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9 May 2022

Annual Average Expenses in Caring for Special Needs Child between Ages of Seven and 18 for Education, Therapy Support and Rehabilitation Treatment

The debate highlighted that special needs children aged seven to 18 in Singapore receive educational and therapeutic support primarily through mainstream and SPED schools, with most attending mainstream schools where SEN services are provided at no additional cost.
Mainstream students access support such as SEN officers, targeted interventions, and partnerships with organizations for specialized services, with financial assistance available to defray costs like those for the Dyslexia Association's MLP programme.
SPED schools serve students with more intensive needs, offering fully funded teachers, therapists, and other personnel, with school fees for citizens ranging from $14 to $250 monthly and financial schemes covering costs for lower-income families.
The government emphasizes affordability and accessibility of support services, including assistive technology devices and transport subsidies, to help special needs children lead independent lives.
The response did not provide specific annual average expense figures for education, therapy support, or rehabilitation treatment from 2010 to 2020, focusing instead on the structure and funding of support systems.

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9 May 2022

Review of Limits on Use of MediSave for Chronic Disease Management Medication for Patients Referred to Intermediate and Long-term Care Services

Ms Ng Ling Ling questioned the rationale for limiting MediSave use for chronic disease medications when patients move from clinics to home-based or intermediate care services and asked for a review to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that MediSave is currently restricted for unregulated home care settings, except for tightly gatekept home palliative care where medication costs are covered under specific limits.
He noted that severely disabled patients can use MediSave Care for cash withdrawals and can seek financial aid like MediFund for subsidised long-term care bills.
The Ministry plans to review extending MediSave use for chronic medications in home medical care as part of efforts to promote right-siting of care and support patient recovery at home.
The review aims to balance prudent regulation with easing financial burdens for patients using long-term care services.

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9 May 2022

Exceptions Made in Disbursement of Baby Support Grant and Possible Extension Beyond September 2022 Given Continuing Low Total Fertility Rate

Leon Perera asked about exceptions to the Baby Support Grant (BSG) eligibility and whether it could be extended past September 2022 due to the low fertility rate.
Indranee Rajah stated that single mothers who were lawfully married to the child's father but are now divorced or widowed are eligible for BSG, and appeals were allowed for babies with an estimated delivery date from October 2020.
The Government confirmed BSG will not be extended beyond the current eligibility period as it was a one-off pandemic measure, but parents will continue to receive support through other M&P measures like the Baby Bonus and Child Development Account.

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9 May 2022

Better Support for Families with Special Needs Children

Miss Cheryl Chan asked whether the Government plans to introduce additional tax reliefs or exemptions beyond the Handicapped Child Relief (HCR) and to raise the HCR amount to better reflect care costs.
Lawrence Wong stated that tax reliefs like HCR recognize parental support but are not intended to cover all costs, with direct subsidies for services such as early intervention and special education schools.
The Government highlighted employment support schemes for work-capable persons with disabilities and subsidized programs for those unable to work, including Day Activity Centres.
Commitment to regular policy reviews and the upcoming Enabling Masterplan 2030 was reaffirmed to build a more inclusive society.

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9 May 2022

Priority for Interim Rental Flats under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme for Families Affected by Delays in Build-to-Order Projects

HDB has taken steps to support flat buyers affected by BTO project delays, including extending protection against steel price fluctuations, co-sharing costs for migrant workers, and helping contractors expedite clearances and work on weekends.
The Minister highlighted that only two out of 98 BTO projects have delays exceeding one year, and flat buyers whose flats are delayed beyond the Delivery Possession Date will receive a one-off lump-sum payment without needing to submit claims.
HDB has increased the supply of flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) to 1,800 units by 2023 and revised eligibility criteria to prioritise couples with children and those less able to afford market rent.
While PPHS application rates have fallen, HDB acknowledges that interim rental flats remain limited and cannot be offered to every family, encouraging them to explore other housing options where possible.
For low-income households with no alternatives, HDB considers Interim Rental Housing on a case-by-case basis, having assisted about 350 households affected by BTO delays.

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