Social welfare — Topics

4 Apr 2022

Impact of Higher Electricity and Ingredient Prices on Earnings of Hawkers

Hawk ers have been affected by rising electricity and ingredient prices as well as COVID-19 dining restrictions, but footfall is improving with eased measures and travel reopening, though the government does not track individual hawkers’ earnings.
The government has provided support including rental waivers, service subsidies, cash payouts, and a new Small Business Recovery Grant offering up to $10,000 per hawker business, while low-income families can seek assistance through ComCare and CDC vouchers.
In response to concerns about private hawker centres and targeted aid, the government noted that most rental reviews result in no change or reductions, the Small Business Recovery Grant applies to eligible stallholders, and CDC vouchers can already be used at participating hawker stalls.

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4 Apr 2022

Increase in Reports of Elder Abuse and Neglect during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Minister reported an increase in elder abuse cases at Family Service Centres during the pandemic (232 in 2019 to 338 in 2021), while cases handled by Adult Protective Services and other specialist centres saw no significant rise.
MSF enhanced monitoring through more frequent check-ins via calls and home visits during reduced community visibility, alongside public education campaigns to encourage early reporting.
MSF continues to collaborate with community partners, hospitals, and authorities to detect and address elder abuse, urging the public to use the 24-hour helpline for suspected cases.
Community networks and volunteers are engaged through training to identify signs of abuse and by organizing befriending activities to support seniors’ well-being.
The government emphasizes that family violence, including elder abuse, is not tolerated and everyone has a role in keeping seniors safe.

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4 Apr 2022

Measures to Dampen Inflationary Pressures or to Help Singaporeans Cope Given Higher Prices

Parliament members proposed various measures to ease inflation, including reducing petrol and diesel excise duties, providing road tax rebates, and offering utility rebates or CDC vouchers to households.
Several speakers asked about government interventions for businesses and lower-income groups, such as temporary tax cuts, support for SMEs, and measures against profiteering and shrinkflation.
The Minister for Finance indicated that the government would address these concerns in a later ministerial statement on inflation and business costs.

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10 Mar 2022

Average Waiting Time for Enrolment of Newly Diagnosed Special Needs Children in Government-funded Early Intervention Programme

The average waiting time for enrolment in Government-funded Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) has increased from six months in 2020 to seven months currently, due to higher hospital referrals and COVID-19 impact.
Waiting times vary across centres and regions, while the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) programme has wait times ranging from four to twelve months.
Out-of-pocket expenses under PPIP are generally higher than EIPIC, with middle-income families paying about $200 more per month after subsidies, and support is available through the Mediacorp Enable Fund for needy families.

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10 Mar 2022

Annual Number of Applications Received under Financial Schemes of Community Development Councils in Past Five Years

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth for annual application numbers, mean and median processing times, cash amounts, and success rates of CDC financial schemes over the past five years.
The Minister replied that CDCs helped an average of about 167,500 applications annually over the last five years.
Processing typically took two to three weeks on average, with urgent cases expedited.
Cash assistance amounts varied based on individual contextual factors.
The response did not provide specific figures for mean and median processing times, cash amounts, or success rates.

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10 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head X (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)

The debate emphasized the need to strengthen Singapore's social compact, address emerging fault lines from the pandemic like racism and economic inequality, and support vulnerable families, particularly in the Malay/Muslim community, through programs like M3 and Project DIAN@M3.
Ministers outlined strategies to build a competent, future-ready workforce and community, focusing on education, lifelong learning, scholarships, mentorship, and partnering with industry to create opportunities in growth sectors for the Malay/Muslim community.
Parliament also discussed enhancing the community dispute resolution framework, promoting racial and religious harmony through refreshed IRCCs, and supporting the arts, culture, heritage, and sports sectors in their post-pandemic recovery and sustainability.

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10 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Ministers Masagos Zulkifli, Desmond Lee, Sun Xueling, and Eric Chua emphasized families as the core of Singapore's social compact, outlining initiatives like the Year of Celebrating SG Families, enhanced financial support such as ComCare and grants, and community programs like ComLink to support low-income and vulnerable families through holistic, coordinated approaches.
The debate highlighted efforts to uplift the low-income and persons with disabilities, including expanding job opportunities, training subsidies, and the Enabling Masterplan 2030, while addressing challenges like family violence through accepted taskforce recommendations and improved support services.
Discussions covered preschool accessibility and quality, with plans to increase places and lower fees, alongside initiatives for early childhood educators and support for children from low-income families via KidSTART, while clarifying policies on single parents and digital assistance for vulnerable groups.

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9 Mar 2022

Expansion of Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers Programme

Christopher de Souza asked if the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) can be expanded to more early intervention programmes to help more families qualify for financial support.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that ECDA will increase PPIP centres from 10 to 16, boosting places by 40% from April 2022, and will also expand government-funded EIPIC places through two new centres by end-2022 and mid-2024.
The government is expanding early intervention services within preschools, including the Development Support Plus programme and piloting an Inclusive Support Programme, to support children with varying developmental needs.

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9 Mar 2022

Support Schemes and Respite Care Options for Families with Special Needs Children

The government offers a range of support schemes for families with special needs children, including early intervention programmes, financial assistance, and services from SG Enable as a central touchpoint.
Respite care options such as Special Student Care Centres, Day Activity Centres, and the pilot "Take-A-Break" programme are available to alleviate caregiver burdens.
Subsidies and financial support have been enhanced for early intervention, special education, and disability services, with means-tested assistance to improve affordability for lower-income families.
Community-led initiatives like Project 3i provide peer support and navigation help for caregivers, complementing government efforts.
Plans under the Enabling Masterplan 2030 aim to further improve and expand services for persons with disabilities and their families.

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9 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening family resilience amid challenges like COVID-19, rising singlehood, declining fertility, and an ageing population, calling for more inclusive definitions of family and targeted support for single parents and caregivers.
Concerns were raised about the well-being of persons with disabilities and their caregivers, with calls to enhance funding, expand adult disability services, and improve future care planning under the Enabling Masterplan 2030.
Members proposed better support for vulnerable families through initiatives like ComLink, with suggestions for streamlined assistance processes, adequate staffing, and incentives to encourage participation.
Debates highlighted the need to address stigma faced by single unwed parents, improve preschool accessibility, and review social assistance schemes like ComCare and public assistance to reflect current inflation and living costs.
Various suggestions were made to support social workers, including capping caseloads, improving remuneration, and leveraging technology to enhance service delivery while maintaining human connection in social services.

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9 Mar 2022

Comparison of Proportion of Gainfully Employed Special Needs Adults Pre- and During COVID-19 Pandemic

The employment rate for special needs adults in Singapore rose from 28.2% pre-COVID (2018-2019) to 30.1% during the pandemic (2020-2021), with most employed in community, social, and food services sectors.
Common barriers to employment include the need for workplace adaptation, communication difficulties, and employer concerns about additional costs for modifications and support.
Government initiatives like the Open Door Programme, Enabling Employment Credit, and Jobs Growth Incentive provide job matching, wage offsets, and training to support employment of persons with disabilities.
SG Enable collaborates with Workforce Singapore and e2i for job matching, with funding schemes integrated through programs like the Open Door Programme.
Targeted support during the pandemic included new programs under the National Jobs Council, creating nearly 300 job and training opportunities for persons with disabilities.

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8 Mar 2022

Annual Number of Eligible and Successful Applications under Financial Assistance Scheme in Past Three Years

In the past three years, the annual number of Singaporean students on the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and those receiving 100% fee subsidies under the Independent School Bursary (ISB) were provided in a table, with all eligible applications approved and no distinction made between Government and Government-aided schools.
Eligibility for both FAS and full ISB subsidies requires Singapore citizenship and a gross household income up to $2,750 or per capita income up to $690, with unsuccessful applicants able to seek school-based or partial subsidies.
The Ministry of Education reviews financial assistance schemes regularly, last enhanced in 2020, and considers inflation and household income changes but did not specify the next review timeline.

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8 Mar 2022

Median Household Income of Primary School Students Taking Foundation Subjects in Past Five Years

Louis Ng asked for the median household income of primary school students taking zero, one, or two or more foundation subjects over the past five years, and whether such data would be collected if not already available.
Chan Chun Sing stated that MOE does not collect household income data for students except for those applying for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), which targets the bottom quintile of national household income.
Over the past five years, about two in five students who took at least one foundation subject in the PSLE were on MOE FAS.

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8 Mar 2022

Review of Rule for 80% of Funds Raised for Foreign Charitable Purposes to be Applied in Singapore

Louis Ng asked the Ministry to review the 80:20 rule requiring at least 80% of funds raised for foreign charitable purposes be used in Singapore, whether a specific list of waiver-eligible activities can be provided, and if waivers can be extended beyond immediate disaster relief.
The Minister of State explained that the rule aims to prioritize local needs and the Commissioner of Charities (COC) grants waivers on a case-by-case basis for certain private appeals and disaster relief, but providing a specific list is impractical due to varying factors.
The Minister assured that the COC facilitated 78 permits for foreign charitable fundraising in 2021 and has granted waivers for causes like COVID-19, Malaysian floods, and Typhoon Rai, while emphasizing the importance of safeguards and due process.
Louis Ng reiterated the call for a more light-touch approach, suggesting greater trust in Singaporeans' donation choices while maintaining audits and checks, and the Minister welcomed this feedback for future reviews.

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7 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)

The Ministry of Manpower announced significant enhancements to the Progressive Wage Model and Workfare Income Supplement, including expanding PWM coverage to 94% of full-time lower-wage workers by early 2023 and increasing Workfare qualifying income cap to $2,500 monthly with a new $500 minimum monthly earning requirement, supported by $9 billion in government spending over five years.
A new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for Employment Pass applicants will be implemented from September 2023, evaluating factors like salary relative to local PMET wages, qualifications, firm diversity, and support for local employment, with a $20,000 monthly salary exemption for senior management roles.
The government is expanding the Household Services Scheme to include basic child-minding and elder-minding services, promoting flexible work arrangements, and enhancing mental well-being support in workplaces, while enshrining fair employment guidelines in law to strengthen workplace fairness.

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7 Mar 2022

Guidelines and Autonomy Given on Disbursement Amounts for MediFund Applications

MediFund Committees have full discretion to assess and approve applications, using MOH-provided operational guidelines as non-binding benchmarks that consider socio-economic and health circumstances, bill sizes, and means testing criteria.
MOH ensures consistency through annual audits of MediFund accounts and administration by the Auditor-General’s Office or an external auditor, alongside automatic MediFund assistance for patients already receiving other social assistance schemes.
Outcomes show high approval rates, with 98.3% of applications approved and 87.6% of approved cases receiving full assistance in FY2020, indicating effective support despite committee discretion.

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4 Mar 2022

Update on Expansion of ComLink Initiative and Measures to Ensure Adequacy of Support and Prevent Overlaps of Assistance

To date, ComLink has reached out to over 6,800 families and engaged more than 3,800 of them, with plans to complete outreach to all 14,000 ComLink families by 2023.
ComLink tracks family progress using short-term stability, medium-term self-reliance, and long-term social mobility indicators across domains like employment, finance, healthcare, and education.
The initiative coordinates support across government agencies, community partners, corporates, and volunteers through Social Service Offices, ensuring minimal disruption if service providers change.

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4 Mar 2022

Update on Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme

The Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme, also known as the Strengthening Families Together Pilot, ran from January 2014 to February 2017 and focused on improving family well-being and children's outcomes through enhanced social worker training and greater inter-agency flexibility.
The pilot benefited 240 families, with 92% of appeals for housing and immigration issues successfully resolved, and showed improvements in family functioning, coping self-efficacy, and children's hope and resilience, though most families continued to need case management after the pilot ended.
MSF applied the pilot's learnings to train social workers and establish collaboration structures like the Systems Capability Team and Social Service Systems Office, which now inform nationwide initiatives such as ComLink to support families in rental housing.

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2 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head M (Ministry of Finance)

Members questioned the effectiveness, governance, and future lessons from Singapore’s extensive COVID-19 spending, seeking reviews on outcomes, controls, and continued support for hard-hit sectors like construction and tourism.
Debates focused on revenue measures, including the GST hike, with calls to exempt basic essentials and inquiries about the tax impact on lower-income households and businesses like taxi drivers.
The Second Minister for Finance outlined measures to ensure accountability, value-for-money in infrastructure projects, and support for businesses via timely payments and targeted schemes, while defending the GST approach as progressive through vouchers and rebates.

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2 Mar 2022

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Multiple MPs raised concerns about the mental health of caregivers and support for vulnerable groups, with calls for enhanced financial aid for informal caregivers and better protection for healthcare and education workers.
The debate focused on fiscal policy, with the government defending the GST hike and other tax measures as necessary for long-term revenue, while opposition parties proposed alternatives like higher wealth and income taxes and using more reserves.
The Finance Minister summarized the Budget's focus on economic recovery, climate action, and a fairer society, and defended the GST increase by highlighting offset packages that protect lower-income households.

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