Social welfare — Topics

4 Nov 2020

Extension of Self-employed Income Relief Scheme to Citizens who Originally Ran Businesses as Self-employed Persons

Murali Pillai asked whether the Self-employed Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) could be extended to Singapore citizens who originally ran businesses as self-employed persons but later incorporated them as companies with no employees, and what other support schemes might be available for those not benefiting from SIRS, the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), or the COVID-19 Support Grant.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that SIRS is targeted at less well-off self-employed persons, while business owners and shareholder-directors often draw salaries rather than declare trade income, making them ineligible for SIRS.
She noted that the Jobs Support Scheme was enhanced to cover shareholder-directors with 2019 assessable income up to $100,000, benefiting about 50,000 such individuals, and that broad-based support like the Solidarity Payment and ComCare assistance is available for those needing further help.

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3 Nov 2020

Number and Percentage of Differently-abled Children with No Access to Development Support and Learning Support Programmes in Last Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the number and percentage of differently-abled children who did not have access to the Development Support and Learning Support programmes over the last five years.
The Development Support and Learning Support programme is available in 550 preschools, covering about 40% of preschoolers aged five to six, with efforts to expand to more preschools through funding and training initiatives.
For children in preschools without the programme, there are channels for parents, healthcare professionals, and preschools to refer children for developmental screening and support through hospitals and early intervention services.

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3 Nov 2020

Respite Care Options for Family Care-givers of Special Needs Children

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about respite care options for family caregivers of special needs children and whether plans exist to expand them.
The Minister outlined current options, including preschools, early intervention centres, Special Student Care Centres, and Child Disability Homes, which provide temporary relief during childcare hours or residential care.
SG Enable has established a caregiver support coalition, an online guide, support groups, and Peer-to-Peer mentor training to help caregivers access resources and community support.

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3 Nov 2020

National Dementia Testing and Support Plan

The National Dementia Strategy, developed in 2009 and updated in 2017, guides care and support for persons with dementia and their caregivers, including community outreach teams that have reached over 324,000 people.
Government subsidies are available for dementia treatment, with up to 80% subsidies for hospital stays, outpatient subsidies at specialist clinics, polyclinics, and GP clinics under the enhanced CHAS scheme, and increased withdrawal limits under MediSave and Flexi-MediSave.
Middle-income families can access chronic CHAS subsidies for dementia care, with enhanced annual caps and additional support for Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, while MediFund is available for those facing financial difficulties.

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3 Nov 2020

Breakdown of Amount Disbursed from COVID-19 Support Schemes to Singapore Residents by Household Income

Leon Perera requested a percentage breakdown of the $5.9 billion in COVID-19 household transfers by income level and the average amount received per household member in each group.
Heng Swee Keat explained that $0.2 billion in grants to self-help groups and CDCs were indirect transfers excluded from the breakdown, leaving $5.7 billion in direct household transfers.
Of the $5.7 billion, 26% went to the bottom 20% of households by per capita income, with an average of about $2,000 per household member.
The middle 20% of households received 20% of the transfers, averaging about $1,500 per member, while the top 20% received 12%, averaging about $900 per member.
These transfers were supplementary to other measures like the Jobs Support Scheme, Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme, and existing subsidies in education, healthcare, and housing.

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3 Nov 2020

Merchants and Hawkers under Community Development Council Voucher Scheme and Rate of Redemption

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Prime Minister for the number of merchants and hawkers who signed up for the CDC Voucher Scheme and the redemption rate.
The CDC Voucher Scheme, launched in June, aims to help lower-income households and support local heartland businesses.
Approximately 8,000 merchants and hawkers have joined the scheme.
As of mid-October, close to 55% of the total vouchers issued have been redeemed.

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3 Nov 2020

Progress of Rare Disease Fund

The Rare Disease Fund, established in 2019 by the Ministry of Health and SingHealth Fund, provides long-term financial support for Singapore Citizens with rare genetic diseases, funded by public donations matched 3-to-1 by the government and fully supported administratively by the government.
As of end-September, the fund has raised $21 million in donations, reaching a total of $93 million with government seed funding and matching, and is invested in an endowment to sustainably support patients over their lifetimes.
Six medicines for four rare disease conditions are currently supported, with six beneficiaries receiving about $2 million in support so far, and the fund encourages more donations to assist additional patients and medicines.

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3 Nov 2020

Applications for Drug Subsidy under Medication Assistance Fund Plus Scheme

The Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) subsidized 66 drugs and supported nearly 18,000 unique patients in 2019, with recipients rising annually.
The Drug Advisory Committee receives about 35 drug subsidy applications yearly from public healthcare institutions, and since 2016, has recommended 114 drugs for subsidy listing after evaluation.
The Ministry conducts regular gap analyses and horizon scanning, such as the 2018 listing of SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes, and continuously reviews the subsidy framework to ensure it meets population needs.

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3 Nov 2020

Median Age of First-time Recipient of Subsidised Hearing Aid

Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired about the median age of first-time subsidized hearing aid recipients and the lifespan percentiles of such devices.
The Ministry of Health stated the median age of seniors receiving hearing aids under the Seniors’ Mobility & Enabling Fund is 77.
A standard hearing aid typically lasts three to five years, though actual lifespan varies with maintenance and usage.

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3 Nov 2020

Employment of Persons With Disabilities

Seah Kian Peng inquired about the employment status of persons with disabilities (PWDs), the number of employers hiring them, and the support available for both employers and families.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M provided data showing that about 28.2% of working-age PWDs are employed, with the government offering wage offsets like the Enabling Employment Credit and enhanced training grants to encourage hiring.
The government also announced additional support through the Jobs Growth Incentive and the Open Door Programme, which includes job placement, training, and job redesign grants for employers.
For families, financial assistance schemes such as the Home Caregiving Grant and CareShield Life are available, along with caregiver support networks and resources through SG Enable.
A collaborative workgroup is working on future initiatives to improve PWD employability, with a full report expected in the first half of 2021.

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3 Nov 2020

Workfare Special Payment and Workfare Income Supplement for Those Holding Multiple Jobs

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired if workers with multiple jobs, each earning under $2,000, could be eligible for the Workfare Special Payment 2020 and future Workfare Income Supplement.
The Deputy Prime Minister clarified that Workfare schemes are targeted at lower-wage workers in the bottom 20%, with eligibility assessed based on total income from all employment sources to ensure fair distribution of support.
He noted that during this challenging period, additional support is provided through one-off payments, and those needing further help can approach MSF Social Service Offices.

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3 Nov 2020

Singaporeans Earning $1,300 or Less a Month on Take-home Basis

The Ministry of Manpower reported that about 30,000 full-time Singaporean employees and 22,000 self-employed persons earn less than $1,300 per month, with the figure including CPF and Workfare contributions in line with international Labour Organization definitions.
Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) has supported nearly 890,000 low-wage workers since 2007, with payouts averaging $1,560 annually and maximums up to $3,600, targeting older and lower-skilled workers to encourage employment and CPF savings.
Debates highlighted differing views on the $1,300 benchmark, with the Workers’ Party clarifying their proposed minimum wage is a gross figure (including CPF), while the government emphasized holistic support through WIS, Skills Support, and other schemes for low-income households.
Questions were raised about extending WIS eligibility to younger sole breadwinners and increasing payout amounts, with the government noting current age criteria focus on older workers and highlighting complementary social support schemes.

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2 Nov 2020

Average Percentage of Families Living in HDB Rental Flats Subsequently Moving on to HDB Home Ownership

Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for National Development about the average percentage of families in HDB rental flats who later achieve HDB home ownership and the typical duration this takes.
Minister Desmond Lee reported that the number of rental households moving to home ownership rose from about 500 in 2013 to 950 in 2019, representing roughly 2% of all rental households that year, with a median stay of seven years.
He noted an additional 2,000 rental households have booked a flat and are awaiting completion, and HDB actively supports tenants through grants, schemes, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, the Home Ownership Support Team, and collaboration with MSF under ComLink.

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2 Nov 2020

Review of CPF Basic Retirement Sum Requirements in Light of Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic

Gerald Giam questioned whether the CPF Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) requirements for those turning 55 in 2021 or later should be reviewed due to the COVID-19 economic crisis affecting CPF contributions.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that the BRS is based on long-term expenditure needs of lower-middle retiree households and is not adjusted for short-term fluctuations, while emphasizing government support for employment and cash flow during the pandemic.
The government has provided various measures like the Jobs Support Scheme, COVID-19 Support Grant, and mortgage relief to help Singaporeans during the crisis, and will continue reviewing the BRS with long-term retirement needs in mind.

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2 Nov 2020

Take-up Rate for Seniors Go Digital Programme amongst Low-income Seniors and Measures to Educate Seniors on Online Scams and Digital Crimes

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the take-up rate for the Seniors Go Digital Programme among low-income seniors and the educational measures against online scams, particularly in e-payments.
Minister S Iswaran stated that 10% of over 36,000 seniors engaged by Digital Ambassadors were low-income, benefiting from subsidised devices and data plans, with cybersecurity education integrated into the programme.
The programme teaches seniors to identify scams and protect data, including guidance on e-payments, and offers hands-on learning, online resources, and webinars developed with relevant agencies.

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2 Nov 2020

Dental Services for Community Health Assist Scheme Orange Card Holdes to Include Tooth Extractions and Fillings

Murali Pillai asked whether CHAS Orange cardholders could receive subsidies for tooth extractions and fillings while keeping the current subsidy range of $50 to $170.50 per procedure.
Gan Kim Yong explained that CHAS Orange cardholders already receive subsidies for more costly dental procedures like dentures and crowns, while tooth extractions and fillings are considered more affordable and are available at polyclinics.
He noted that patients needing complex or specialist dental care can be referred to subsidized services at the National Dental Centre or National University Centre for Oral Health.
The government will continue to review the subsidy framework to ensure dental care remains affordable and accessible.

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2 Nov 2020

Allow Usage for MediSave for Certain Treatments at Selected Traditional Chinese Medicine

Miss Rachel Ong inquired whether seniors could use MediSave for approved treatments at selected Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics and, if not, the reasons for the refusal.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that MediSave is intended for basic healthcare needs and to prevent premature depletion of funds, and while coverage for mainstream treatments has expanded, further extension requires careful consideration.
The Ministry supports TCM through funding for professional development, digitalisation, and clinic upgrades, and encourages charitable TCM clinics to provide affordable services.
The government will continue reviewing financing schemes to ensure seniors can access necessary care regardless of their ability to pay.

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2 Nov 2020

Greater Subsidies for Medication Needed by Higher Number of Seniors and Retiress

Christopher de Souza asked whether the Ministry of Health would consider greater subsidies for dementia medication and other drugs needed by seniors and retirees, given the higher number affected.
Gan Kim Yong stated that the government ensures affordability through the Standard Drug List and Medication Assistance Fund, offering up to 75% subsidies at public healthcare institutions, with additional discounts for pioneers and Merdeka Generation seniors.
The Ministry regularly updates subsidised drug lists, adding 15 drugs for dementia and chronic conditions over three years, such as Donepezil, reducing co-payments from $12 to $3 monthly for eligible patients.
Subsidies are also available via the Community Health Assist Scheme for GP visits, with recent increases in subsidy caps and new cards for low-income individuals, alongside special support for pioneers and Merdeka Generation seniors.
MOH will continue reviewing measures and support, including MediFund, to maintain affordability and accessibility of healthcare and medications for those in need.

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2 Nov 2020

Allow More Flexibility on Use of MediSave for Dental Procedures not Involving Surgeries

Christopher de Souza proposed allowing the elderly to use MediSave for non-surgical dental procedures such as dentures and gum disease treatment.
Gan Kim Yong explained that MediSave is primarily for costly medical expenses and noted existing subsidies and flexible use for the elderly, emphasizing the need to balance flexibility with contribution rates.
He highlighted that MediSave can already be used for dental day surgeries, and other measures like CHAS and MediFund help ensure affordability for non-surgical dental care.

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2 Nov 2020

Reduce Waiting Time for Seniors to get a Pair of Dentures from Government Dental Clinics

Christopher de Souza inquired about reducing waiting times for seniors to obtain dentures from government dental clinics, highlighting concerns over delays in this specific service.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that denture production involves multiple appointments and lab steps, with scheduling based on case complexity and urgency, while noting that immediate treatment is prioritized.
He outlined alternative solutions, including the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) which has expanded access to private dental clinics, and Project Silver Screen which provides vouchers to help seniors afford dentures after subsidies.

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