Social welfare — Topics

9 Jan 2018

More Help for At-risk Families

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the causes of family violence, how to better identify at-risk families, the number of cases reported by non-family members, and the timeline for the Vulnerable Adults Bill.
The Minister for Social and Family Development shared that an average of 1,400 family violence cases are reported yearly, with around 1,200 Personal Protection Orders issued annually, and one in three ComCare hotline calls on family violence come from non-family members.
The Minister explained that common causes include controlling behaviors and stressors like marital or financial issues, highlighted the national network for support, and noted the Vulnerable Adults Bill public consultation was held in 2016 with the bill planned for introduction this year.
In a supplementary question, Dr Lee asked about risk assessment methods and the use of data analytics, like in the US, to screen calls and identify at-risk individuals early.
The Minister responded that multiple agencies are part of the national networking system, and while specific data on calls saving lives is not available, every report brings cases to the attention of specialists and authorities as a critical first step.

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9 Jan 2018

Government Oversight of Care for the Intellectually Disabled

Dr Lily Neo questioned the Ministry for Social and Family Development on identifying and supervising intellectually disabled individuals without family support and preventing their abuse, to which the Minister outlined existing support services, community partnerships, and planned legislation like the Vulnerable Adults Bill.
The Minister explained that while there is no centralized register, agencies and schools track and refer individuals for support, and emphasized community vigilance following the case of Annie Ee, though specific details were avoided due to ongoing legal proceedings.
Dr Neo asked about the number of intellectually disabled persons on Public Assistance and urged relaxing eligibility criteria, but the Minister stated the specific figures were unavailable and that scheme reviews are ongoing.

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8 Jan 2018

Reasons for Increase in Households Receiving Short- and Medium-term Assistance and Long-term Assistance from FY2012 to FY2016

The increase in households receiving short- and medium-term assistance (SMTA) and long-term assistance (LTA) from FY2012 to FY2016 was attributed to factors such as widened eligibility criteria, greater awareness and accessibility through expanded Social Service Offices, and demographic shifts including an ageing population and smaller family sizes.
A growing proportion of SMTA applicants were older (aged 55–64) and not working, often due to being medically unfit or retired, aligning with national demographic trends.
The Ministry will continue refining and enhancing social support policies while emphasizing the importance of maintaining work ethic, individual responsibility, and the roles of family and community in providing care.
The Government plans to improve client-centric service delivery by exploring integrated services, co-locating resources, and strengthening interagency coordination to help vulnerable households regain self-reliance.

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8 Jan 2018

Total Amount of MediSave Contributions Belonging to Pensioners under Their Respective Pension Schemes

The total MediSave contributions for pensioners vary by scheme, with CPW pensioners having an average balance of $15,700, CCS pensioners $47,400, and MSO pensioners $43,300, while FAW pensioners do not set aside MediSave.
In 2016, CPW, CCS, and MSO pensioners made an average of one, two, and three MediSave transactions per person respectively.
Government pensioners are eligible for one of four post-retirement medical benefits, each with different MediSave requirements and transaction frequencies.

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8 Jan 2018

Developing Affordable Home-based Care for Ageing Population

Over 4,200 residents are currently receiving government subsidies for home-based nursing care, with up to two-thirds of households eligible and lower-income families receiving subsidies of up to 80%.
Additional support includes the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund for assistive devices and home healthcare items, as well as grants and levy concessions for hiring foreign domestic workers to care for frail seniors.
The government aims to expand home-based care capacity to 10,000 places by 2020 and is improving quality and affordability through integrated home and day care services.
A review of the ElderShield scheme is underway to help Singaporeans better prepare for long-term care costs.

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8 Jan 2018

Plans to Further Develop Social Service Offices

Mr Teo Ser Luck asked about plans to further develop the infrastructure and programmes of Social Service Offices (SSOs), to which Minister Desmond Lee outlined the existing network of 24 SSOs established between 2013 and 2015 to provide accessible assistance, with 95% of ComCare beneficiaries living or working within two kilometres of an SSO.
The government continuously considers infrastructural improvements and relocations, such as the Tampines SSO moving to Our Tampines Hub for better integration with other public services, while SSOs also engage in ground sensing and collaborate with community partners for coordinated social service planning.
Efforts to enhance service delivery include tightening interagency referrals, piloting integrated assistance where SSO officers handle both social and employment support, and co-locating complementary services like Family Services Teams to provide more convenient and holistic support for clients in need.

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8 Jan 2018

Effectiveness of Workfare Training Support Scheme in Encouraging Workers to Upskill

The Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme provides substantial subsidies, training allowances, and cash awards to encourage low-wage Singaporeans to upskill, with over 270,000 unique workers benefiting since 2010.
WTS complements SkillsFuture by offering higher subsidies (up to 95% of course fees) for eligible workers, alongside support for employers and trainees without employer backing.
Additional measures like Progressive Wage Models and the Inclusive Growth Programme work alongside WTS to create clear career pathways and share productivity gains with low-wage workers.

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8 Jan 2018

Increasing Income Threshold Qualification for Parent Relief Claims

Zainal Sapari proposed raising the $4,000 annual income threshold for Parent Relief claims to help seniors qualify while working part-time.
Heng Swee Keat explained that tax reliefs like Parent Relief are meant for dependants who are handicapped or have no income, with the $4,000 threshold balancing support for those with incidental income.
Heng noted that other measures already support senior employment, including the Special Employment Credit, WorkPro, and Workfare Income Supplement.

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8 Jan 2018

Helping Children with Rare Diseases

Dr. Tan Wu Meng highlighted the devastating impact of rare genetic diseases like Pompe disease and Gaucher disease on children, emphasizing their rarity, catastrophic effects, and the high cost of treatment, urging the government to extend support as part of a fair and inclusive society.
The Senior Minister of State for Health, Chee Hong Tat, acknowledged the challenges and shared examples of collaborative efforts (e.g., MediShield Life, MediFund, and private partnerships) that have reduced costs for patients like Emily and Chloe, committing to a review of options to better support children with rare diseases.
The debate concluded with Parliament agreeing to adjourn, while the Ministry of Health plans to propose solutions later in the year, possibly including a new fund, to address the financial burdens on affected families.

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6 Nov 2017

Disposable Income Limit to Qualify for Legal Aid

Miss Cheryl Chan questioned the relevance of the $10,000 disposable income limit for legal aid compared to higher caps in other schemes, noting that other income thresholds have increased over time.
K Shanmugam explained that the Ministry of Law regularly reviews the means test, with the last review in 2013 to allow about 25% of citizens and permanent residents to qualify, up from 17%.
He clarified that disposable income accounts for permitted deductibles like living expenses, CPF contributions, and rent, which can lower eligibility even with a higher gross income.
The 2013 review increased permitted deductibles for cost of living and added a new deductible for family proceedings involving children or protection orders to aid vulnerable applicants.
The adjustments aim to balance inclusivity with fiscal prudence, ensuring legal aid reaches those with limited means while considering individual circumstances.

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6 Nov 2017

Digital TV Adoption by Low-income Households under Digital TV Assistance Scheme

The Ministry confirmed that 160,000 low-income households are identified for the Digital TV Assistance Scheme, providing free set-top boxes and installation, with about 64,000 packages deployed as of October 2017.
Outreach efforts are being intensified through door-knock exercises, community partnerships, and media campaigns to increase awareness and adoption among remaining households.
The analogue TV switch-off has been extended from end-2017 to end-2018 to align with regional plans and give the public more time to transition.
The Ministry is studying enhancements to the scheme to assist more Housing and Development Board Singaporean households and will announce details early next year.
The Ministry remains committed to ensuring all households can access free-to-air channels and public service broadcasts after the analogue switch-off.

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6 Nov 2017

Helping Families Out of Poverty Cycle

The government prioritizes targeted, multi-layered assistance over simplistic labels like chronic or episodic poverty, addressing the multifaceted needs of vulnerable groups through various schemes and community partnerships.
Programs such as ComCare Long-Term Assistance and upstream initiatives like KidSTART and the Fresh Start Housing Scheme are designed to prevent families from falling further into poverty and support their long-term resilience and self-reliance.
Community stakeholders, including Social Service Offices and groups like MENDAKI, play a key role in identifying needs, leveraging family strengths, and fostering collaboration to help low-income families avoid entrenched poverty.

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6 Nov 2017

Pioneer Generation Office's Outreach Efforts

The Pioneer Generation Office (PGO) reported that its third wave of outreach, launched in August 2016, successfully engaged nearly 350,000 seniors, or over two-thirds of the senior population, by explaining government schemes beyond the Pioneer Generation Package.
PGO currently has over 3,000 trained volunteers, which is considered sufficient for current outreach activities, but it is actively recruiting more partners to meet future needs due to the ageing population.
The PGO supported community pilots in three constituencies, where volunteers referred more than 800 seniors with complex needs to relevant agencies for case management follow-up.

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6 Nov 2017

Support for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

The Ministry of Health collaborates with the Ministry of Education and other agencies to identify and support children with ADHD through programs like REACH, which involves multidisciplinary teams working with schools.
For children below seven, suspected developmental conditions including ADHD are flagged by doctors and preschool teachers, with screening and referrals managed through Case Filter Meetings and early intervention programs.
Subsidies are available for services like REACH and early intervention, with additional financial assistance for parents who need it, though diagnostic methods for younger children are approached cautiously.

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6 Nov 2017

Exceeding MediSave Claimable Limit under MediSave Maternity Package

Zainal Sapari inquired about the number and percentage of women exceeding the MediSave Maternity Package limit, reasons for cost overruns, and whether greater flexibility can be given for using MediSave beyond the limit for complications during delivery.
Gan Kim Yong stated the package covers subsidised care with specific claim limits and noted that over two years, three-quarters of subsidised deliveries had no out-of-pocket costs, while eight in ten had payments of $500 or less.
He added that patients facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers, with appeals considered case-by-case.

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6 Nov 2017

Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill

The bill amends the CPF Act to allow more members to transfer savings to their parents and grandparents by using their property charge to meet the Full Retirement Sum requirement, thereby increasing eligibility from 20% to 30% of members.
It updates the benchmark for Retirement Sum exemptions from the Retirement Sum Scheme to the CPF LIFE payout, which is expected to allow more members with private annuities to qualify for exemption.
The bill streamlines administration by moving computational details for voluntary CPF top-up limits from the main Act to regulations, clarifying the legal framework without changing the actual limits.
During the debate, MPs raised concerns about retirement adequacy, the impact of longer lifespans and smaller families, and the need for better public education and advisory services to help members make informed choices.
The Second Minister clarified that transferred CPF monies are safeguarded and can be refunded if not used, while highlighting existing support schemes and outreach efforts to improve CPF understanding among members.

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6 Nov 2017

Development of Type 2 Diabetes

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin questioned how social factors influence Type 2 diabetes in Singapore, how the Ministry of Health collaborates with other agencies to address these determinants, and how clinicians tailor self-management advice to individual patient needs.
The Senior Minister of State for Health explained that social determinants like income and education affect diabetes risk and that the Ministry works with social ministries, community groups, and volunteers to promote healthy living and ensure healthcare accessibility.
Initiatives such as the NurtureSG Taskforce, healthier school meals, and subsidized health check-ups aim to foster healthy habits from a young age, especially for vulnerable children and youth.
Targeted programs, including partnerships with welfare organizations and subsidized screenings for lower-income groups, are designed to improve early detection and support lifestyle changes.
Healthcare providers engage patients, caregivers, and community partners to address challenges like social isolation and low health literacy, enhancing self-care and treatment adherence.

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3 Oct 2017

Sensor-activated Alarm Systems in HDB Studio Apartments for Elderly

Ms Sun Xueling asked whether HDB will pilot sensor-activated alarm systems in elderly studio apartments or new flats, and what the cost increase would be.
The Minister for National Development said HDB is trialling elderly monitoring systems in Yuhua and will study outcomes, costs, and business models before deciding on wider implementation.
The Minister noted that elderly adoption of such systems depends on personal choice and awareness, and HDB is working with agencies to identify seniors who would benefit most.
A Member of Parliament suggested adopting a Japanese hot water pot sensor system, and the Minister responded that HDB is exploring a range of sensor technologies, including wearables, motion detectors, and app-based alerts.

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2 Oct 2017

Number of ComCare Applications Withdrawn after Submission

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for the number of ComCare applications withdrawn each year from 2011 to 2016 and a breakdown of the reasons for withdrawal.
The Minister, Desmond Lee, stated that between 2011 and 2016, an average of about 2% of ComCare applications were withdrawn annually after submission.
Reasons for withdrawal include applicants finding a job and no longer needing assistance, or not wanting to share necessary documents or allow contact with family members to assess their financial situation.
The Minister emphasized that applicants are always advised they can return to the Social Service Office for assistance if their circumstances change in the future.
The response did not provide a year-by-year breakdown of withdrawal numbers or a detailed categorization of reasons, focusing instead on the overall proportion and common causes.

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2 Oct 2017

Racial and Household Income Distributions of Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

The Ministry of Education noted that about one in ten schools differ from the national racial norm, and while the performance of students from different ethnic groups varies, the gap, particularly for Malay students, has been closing over time.
The Ministry does not collect household income data across the system, but acknowledged that socio-economic status is correlated with academic performance globally, while emphasizing that student motivation, home support, and school quality are more critical determinants.
The Ministry is committed to providing equitable education through needs-based resourcing, such as additional staff for counselling and support programmes, enhanced financial assistance, and partnerships with community groups to assist disadvantaged students.

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