Social welfare — Topics

11 May 2021

Last Drawn Salary Cap for Employment Assistance Package

Gerald Giam asked whether the Employment Assistance Package (EAP) under the Retirement and Re-employment Act could be based on an employee’s last drawn salary instead of the current fixed cap of $5,500 to $13,000.
Minister Josephine Teo explained that the EAP is a last-resort measure to support seniors seeking alternative employment after re-employment options are exhausted, with principles including reasonable months of salary, a minimum amount to protect lower-wage workers, and a maximum cap to moderate employers’ financial burden.
The EAP was last reviewed in 2019 and remains aligned with these principles, which have contributed to high re-employment rates and raised the average effective retirement age beyond OECD averages.

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11 May 2021

Mental Health Support to Lower Income

Seah Kian Peng raised questions about the adequacy of mental health support for lower-income individuals amid rising needs and online service use, urging a review of schemes and a holistic support structure.
Masagos Zulkifli affirmed the government's commitment to accessible mental health services for all income levels, highlighting subsidized care through public institutions, MediSave, and MediFund.
He detailed various social services, including subsidized counselling, Family Service Centres, and free helplines and online platforms like Mindline.sg and the National CARE Hotline.
The government is expanding community mental health services under the Community Mental Health Masterplan and establishing an inter-agency platform to coordinate efforts.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue collaborating with other agencies and community partners to support lower-income families' mental wellness needs.

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11 May 2021

Keeping Grocery Prices Affordable for Singaporeans Given Rising Prices in Global Commodity Markets

The Minister explained that rising global food prices are due to strong demand, tight supply from adverse weather, and export restrictions, which impact Singapore as an open economy that imports most of its food.
The government has diversified food import sources from over 170 countries and maintained supply resilience during crises like COVID-19, helping keep prices competitive.
To support affordability, the government works with cooperatives like NTUC FairPrice on programs such as price freezes on essential house-brand items, and provides targeted financial assistance to low-income households through ComCare schemes.
The government remains committed to protecting essential food supplies and stabilizing prices but acknowledges ongoing volatility from global uncertainties like transportation delays and shipping shortages.

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11 May 2021

GST Vouchers' Offset of GST Paid by Lower-income Households

The GST Voucher scheme offsets an average of 84% of the annual GST paid by the bottom 20% of households through permanent measures like cash payouts and utilities rebates, with additional one-off payments in 2019 and 2020 further offsetting 33% of GST, resulting in a total offset exceeding the GST payable during those years.
The government is studying enhancements to the permanent GST Voucher scheme to increase the offset for lower and middle-income households, with details to be provided later, aiming to ensure these groups receive more benefits than the taxes they pay.
The GST Voucher scheme targets households with an assessable income below $28,000, which is significantly lower than the median monthly income, to focus support on lower-income groups while addressing broader inequality through a range of social measures.

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10 May 2021

Breakdown of Amount Refunded to Lessees by Room Type and Balance of Lease under the Lease Buyback Scheme

Gan Thiam Poh asked for the total amount refunded to lessees who returned HDB flats under the Lease Buyback Scheme, broken down by room type and balance of lease
Desmond Lee explained that seniors may return flats early under specific circumstances such as moving in with family or demise, and receive compensation based on the remaining lease value
The Ministry provided median refund amounts for each flat type and remaining lease period, presented in Tables 1 and 2

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10 May 2021

Improve Affordability of On-demand Point-to-point Transport Services for Personal Mobility Aids and Devices

Raeesah Khan asked the Ministry for Transport about plans to make on-demand transport more affordable for users of wheelchairs and personal mobility devices.
Ong Ye Kung outlined existing measures, including regular taxis for foldable wheelchairs and subsidised SMRT London Cabs for motorised wheelchairs and personal mobility aids.
The Government offers the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for persons with disabilities who cannot use public transport, covering up to 80% of travel costs for school, work, or training.
The Ministry is committed to continuing support for persons with disabilities, including affordable point-to-point transport services.

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10 May 2021

Data on Asatizahs under Asatizah Recognition Scheme

As of 31 December 2020, there were 4,945 asatizahs recognized under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, with about 60% holding Islamic studies degrees or diplomas and the rest being Quranic reading teachers.
Female asatizahs make up around two-thirds of the total, with half aged 36 or below and just over 10% above 65 years old.
Approximately 40 asatizahs are financially assisted through zakat, and an additional 500 received support from Pergas' Gracious Package during the COVID-19 period.
Since the scheme became mandatory in January 2017, 33 asatizahs have been disciplined, with 18 removed due to ethical misconduct and/or doctrinal issues.

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10 May 2021

Trend of Hiring of Professional Care-giving Help for Elderly in Past Three Years and Plans for Review of Subsidies and Eligibility for Home Caregiving Grant

The Minister for Health reported an upward trend in the use of professional elderly caregiving services from 17,000 in 2018 to nearly 19,000 in 2019, but a decline to an average of 12,000 in the first three quarters of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Health offers various professional caregiving services, including day care, integrated home and day care, home personal care, palliative care, and respite care, staffed by formal healthcare workers.
The Ministry continually reviews schemes like the Home Caregiving Grant, introduced in 2019, which provides a $200 monthly payout to eligible individuals with permanent moderate disability living in the community.
Families needing further help with caregiving services and support can approach the Agency for Integrated Care for assistance.

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10 May 2021

Low Take-up Rate for Lift Access Housing Grant

Minister Desmond Lee explained that the Lift Access Housing Grant (LHG) was introduced in March 2020 to help residents with urgent medical or mobility needs move to HDB flats with direct lift access, as about 2,000 units in 150 blocks remain without such access due to technical or cost constraints.
As of February 2021, only 28 complete applications for the LHG were received, with 22 approved and four under evaluation, indicating a low take-up rate.
The low uptake is expected because the LHG targets households with significant needs and requires relocation, which limits the number of eligible residents.
HDB continues to explore ways to reduce implementation costs and overcome technical barriers for the remaining flats while monitoring the LHG's effectiveness.

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10 May 2021

Number and Waiting Time for Appeals to HDB for Interim Rental Housing by Persons Going Through Divorce

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked about the number of appeals, average waiting time, and potential financing support review for divorcees seeking interim rental housing from HDB.
Desmond Lee stated that interim rental housing is assessed case-by-case, with an average waiting time of two to three months after document submission, and noted that as of March 2021, eight households in such housing were going through divorce.
He explained that divorcees with care of their children have the same access to public housing as other families, including eligibility for grants and priority schemes like ASSIST for second-timers.
The government continually reviews housing policies to ensure inclusivity and encourages those in need to approach HDB for individual assistance.

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10 May 2021

Accelerating Pace of Response to Requests for Public Rental Flats

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB can accelerate responses to rental flat requests to support families in urgent housing distress.
HDB aims to respond to rental requests within three weeks but may take longer for complex cases, providing interim updates, and offers priority allocation for urgent needs like medical grounds.
Waiting times for flat allocation have increased from two months pre-pandemic to about five months due to construction delays and units used for COVID-19 emergency housing requiring refurbishment.
HDB is working to speed up sprucing works and key collections, with about a third of successful applicants in 2020 receiving priority allocation.
Those in sudden housing distress are advised to approach social service offices, family service centres, or call the ComCare hotline for immediate shelter assistance.

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10 May 2021

Better Protection and CPF Contributions of Gig and Platform Economy Workers

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry urged the Ministry of Manpower to collaborate with platform companies to enable automatic CPF contributions for Singapore-based self-employed gig workers.
Hazel Poa requested an update on protective measures for gig workers and a review of the employee-versus-freelancer definition to better cover those functioning as employees.
Josephine Teo responded that the government is actively studying additional safeguards for gig workers' healthcare and retirement needs but requires more time due to multiple considerations.

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5 Apr 2021

Details of Applications, Rejections and Appeals for COVID-19 Support and Recovery Grants

The Ministry for Social and Family Development reported that as of 22 March 2021, it received about 26,500 COVID-19 Recovery Grant applications, with approximately 10,500 approved, 2,000 being processed, and 14,000 unsuccessful, and it received around 570 appeals, of which about 450 were successful.
About two-thirds of unsuccessful applications were due to applicants not meeting eligibility criteria for income loss, job loss, or no-pay leave, or exceeding household income limits, with other reasons including unverifiable employment details or failure to meet job search or training requirements.
The Ministry does not specifically track rejections due to resignations, but less than 12% of applications were rejected for not experiencing involuntary job loss, and applications are assessed case-by-case, with appeals considered for extenuating circumstances such as resignations compelled by employers.

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5 Apr 2021

Measures to Assist Rising Number of Seniors Living Only with Spouse Should One or Both Fall Ill without Available Help

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked about programmes for seniors living only with their spouse who may lack help or funds for a domestic worker if their health deteriorates, whether in HDB or private homes.
Gan Kim Yong explained that the Ministry of Health partners with community services like Silver Generation Office, eldercare centres, and CareLine to support seniors aging in place, regardless of housing type.
Seniors can access home-based and centre-based care services, including day care, rehabilitation, meals, and transport, with up to 80% subsidies for eligible individuals.
Additional support includes the Home Caregiving Grant ($200/month) for those with permanent moderate disability and the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund for assistive devices.
Seniors can seek further help through the Agency for Integrated Care’s hotline or nearby AIC Link centres.

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5 Apr 2021

Number of Successful Applications for Home Caregiving Grant

He Ting Ru asked for the total number of successful Home Caregiving Grant applications, the total amount paid out, and whether a lower grant could be considered for care recipients in properties with annual values between $13,000 and $21,000.
Gan Kim Yong stated that over 31,000 beneficiaries have received the grant and more than $75 million has been paid out as of end-February 2021.
The grant is means-tested, with eligibility based on per-capita household income or property annual value not exceeding $13,000, which covers all HDB flats.
The Ministry continues to review schemes and directs families needing further help to AIC Links or Social Service Offices.
No direct response was provided on adjusting the grant for properties with annual values between $13,000 and $21,000.

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5 Apr 2021

Applications for Rare Disease Fund

The Rare Disease Fund (RDF) has processed eight applications to date, with seven approved and one denied because the family could afford treatment; the RDF is funded by public donations and a 3:1 government co-matching scheme.
An independent committee assesses RDF applications based on clinical eligibility, financial need, and family circumstances, with patients expected to co-pay according to their means.
The government collaborates with groups like the Rare Disorders Society and Rainbow Across Borders to raise awareness and support patients, but does not plan to publish a public rare disease registry due to patient confidentiality and the small population.

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5 Apr 2021

Wheelchair-bound HDB Residents Living on Floors Without Lift Access

Hazel Poa inquired about the number of wheelchair-bound HDB residents living without lift access and the annual complaints received over the past three years.
Desmond Lee outlined ongoing efforts to improve accessibility, including retrofitting HDB blocks, the Lift Upgrading Programme, and the Lift Access Housing Grant, noting that about 150 blocks still lack direct lift access due to cost or technical constraints.
The government has introduced initiatives like the Enhanced EASE programme and wheelchair lifter pilots, with over 1,900 ramps installed and 10 lifters deployed as of February 2021.
HDB does not track the exact number of wheelchair-bound residents but handles every request for mobility assistance and received 27 feedback cases on accessibility issues in the past year.
Ongoing programmes such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme aim to further improve estates, with recognition that more can be done to assist less mobile residents.

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5 Apr 2021

Persons with Disabilities Who Have Approached SG Enable for Employment and Job Placement Assistance

Mr Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the number of persons with disabilities who sought employment help from SG Enable over the past five years, the average success rate, and future plans to support their employment.
SG Enable and its partners have placed over 3,000 persons with disabilities in jobs through the Open Door Programme since 2014, with more than 60% remaining employed with the same employer after six months.
The government has enhanced support, including the ODP Training Grant offering 95% course fee subsidies and the Enabling Employment Credit providing up to 30% wage offsets for eligible employers.
Three new programmes—Place and Train, Attach and Train, and Skills Development—were launched to complement existing efforts amid COVID-19 impacts.
A cross-sectoral workgroup under the Third Enabling Masterplan has concluded its work and will soon release recommendations to better support persons with disabilities in the future economy.

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5 Apr 2021

Emergency Interim Public Housing Available at Short Notice to Victims of Domestic Violence

The Minister clarified that emergency interim public housing for domestic violence victims is primarily provided through MSF-funded crisis shelters when safety risks are high and no safe alternatives exist, with social service professionals assisting in securing longer-term housing.
For less severe cases, victims are encouraged to stay in their residences with safety plans supported by Family Violence Specialist Centres, and courts can issue Domestic Exclusion Orders to restrict perpetrators from entering shared homes.
HDB may exercise flexibility in allocating public rental flats to victims with no other housing options, as part of their longer-term accommodation assessment.
The government is addressing family violence through the National Family Violence Networking System and a Taskforce that is developing recommendations to increase awareness, improve reporting, strengthen victim protection, and enhance perpetrator accountability.

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5 Apr 2021

Limited Number of Exchange-Traded Funds under CPF Investment Scheme

The CPF Board limits ETFs under the CPF Investment Scheme to protect members' retirement savings from excessive risk, considering varying member knowledge and product complexity.
ETFs are allowed for investment from both the Ordinary and Special Accounts, and the CPF Board welcomes more applications, subject to careful review of fees and track records.
Only ETFs listed on the Singapore Exchange or registered with local authorities are included to ensure regulatory oversight and avoid foreign jurisdiction risks.

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