Social welfare — Topics

2 Oct 2017

Withdrawal of Subsidies for Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund

Joan Pereira inquired about the circumstances under which subsidies for the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund would be withdrawn without changes in household income.
Gan Kim Yong clarified that subsidies are not withdrawn if seniors continue to meet the scheme's eligibility criteria, including household income and assessed need for assistive devices or services.
The subsidies remain in place as long as seniors receive care services and fulfill the conditions, with appeals managed by the Agency for Integrated Care.

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2 Oct 2017

Breakdown of Annual Foreign Worker Levies Collected

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the annual breakdown of foreign worker levies collected since 2012 and whether part of these levies could be used to subsidize households needing foreign domestic workers (FDWs) or provide financial assistance to FDWs in exceptional circumstances.
Lim Swee Say stated that FDW levies, like other government revenues, go into the Consolidated Fund to fund all government expenditures, including assistance schemes like the FDW Grant for eligible households with family members needing permanent help with daily activities.
The FDW Grant provides $120 per month to offset FDW hiring costs for means-tested households, benefiting over 17,000 since 2012, and households with children, elderly, or those needing help with daily activities receive a concessionary FDW levy rate of $60 instead of the full $265 rate.
For FDWs needing financial assistance, the government supports NGOs like the Centre for Domestic Employees, which provide humanitarian aid, rather than offering direct government financial assistance.

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2 Oct 2017

Affordability of Daycare Centres for Persons with Special Needs

Desmond Choo asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development how it ensures daycare centres for persons with special needs remain affordable.
Desmond Lee stated there are 26 Day Activity Centres operated by voluntary welfare organisations, with fees set by them but moderated through government measures.
MSF revises operating subsidies annually to keep pace with inflation, means-tests subsidies for lower-income families, and issues guidelines to prevent sharp fee hikes.
Additional support comes from government grants like the Community Silver Trust, which matches donations to VWOs, and MSF continues to monitor fees for funded programmes.

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2 Oct 2017

Efforts to Help Freelancers and Workers in Gig Economy with Medical and Retirement Adequacy

The Ministry of Manpower explained that gig economy workers can be employees or self-employed, with employees and employers required to make CPF contributions for healthcare and retirement, and lower-income employees eligible for Workfare top-ups.
Self-employed persons must make mandatory MediSave contributions for healthcare and can voluntarily top up their Special and Retirement Accounts for retirement, with tax relief and potential Workfare top-ups available for lower-income freelancers.
A tripartite workgroup has been formed to study and address key issues faced by self-employed persons, including healthcare and retirement adequacy, and will provide updates after consulting stakeholders.

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2 Oct 2017

Review Sales, Content and Cost of Milk Products and Supplements for Adults

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health about plans to review the sales, content, and cost of adult milk products and supplements, especially for those on dietary supplementation or tube feeding.
The Minister responded that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority regulates the safety of these products, but there are no current plans to regulate their sales or prices.
The Minister added that seniors needing financial assistance can apply for means-tested subsidies under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund, which has supported over 4,000 beneficiaries so far.
The Ministry will continue to monitor the situation to support seniors in need, but no broader review or regulation is planned at this time.

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2 Oct 2017

Increase in ComCare Assistance Cases

Seah Kian Peng asked whether there has been an increase in ComCare assistance cases compared to last year, noting his surprise at the slight decrease despite revised criteria that had raised assistance thresholds.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that ComCare assisted about 39,200 unique households in FY2016, a slight decrease from 39,500 in FY2015, and attributed the stability or decrease to improved accessibility through Social Service Offices and community outreach.
Seah Kian Peng also raised concerns about Social Service Offices not operating on weekends and suggested a review to better reach those in need, while Leon Perera asked whether SSOs could accommodate applicants with mobility or documentation challenges through phone, email, or house visits.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary assured that SSOs, together with grassroots organizations, are accessible and flexible, including house visits and community support, to ensure Singaporeans receive help when needed.

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2 Oct 2017

Review and Publish Results of Government's Measures to Reduce Socio-economic Inequality

Leon Perera asked whether the Government will regularly review and publish results of its measures to reduce socio-economic inequality, citing a low international ranking by Oxfam.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance outlined comprehensive policies across education, work, and healthcare to support lower-income groups, noting that outcomes like income growth and the Gini coefficient are already published annually.
Perera followed up by questioning if the Government is confident in keeping up with international best practices on equality of opportunity and suggested regular reports on social mobility, to which the Minister responded that addressing inequality is a daily, ongoing commitment embedded in all policy work.

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11 Sep 2017

Update on Sungei Road Flea Market Vendors

The Minister reported that nearly 80 vendors from the Sungei Road Hawking Zone have received government assistance, including rental subsidies and training, to adjust after the zone's closure.
More than 30 vendors have taken up lock-up stalls in hawker centres, with only one relinquishing their stall due to merchandise unsuitability, while 27 others have moved to existing flea markets.
For the 11 original permit holders, four have accepted lock-up stalls at subsidised rentals, and the government continues to provide job placement and financial aid to those in need.

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11 Sep 2017

Effects of Individuals Seeking Donations through Social Media and Crowdfunding Platforms

The rise of individuals seeking welfare donations online raises concerns about inaccurate or partial information, with some cases revealing beneficiaries had undisclosed savings or were ineligible for government assistance, potentially undermining public trust.
Transparency and accountability issues in crowdfunding, such as unclear fund usage and poor record-keeping, may lead to donor scepticism and discourage support for genuinely worthy causes, contrary to nurturing a compassionate society.
Overreliance on crowdfunding could weaken personal work ethic and family support networks, posing a risk if individuals bypass their own resources and community aid prematurely.
The government emphasises that all fundraising appeals are regulated under existing Charities Regulations, which require disclosure of accurate information and proper fund management, and urges the public to report suspicious activities to authorities.

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11 Sep 2017

Primary and Secondary Students Diagnosed with Myopia and Astigmatism

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about the number of primary and secondary students diagnosed with myopia and astigmatism over the past five years, current eye-care campaigns in schools, and assistance plans for lower-income students needing corrective lenses.
The Health Promotion Board reported stable vision problem rates, with 28% of Primary 1 students, 65% of Primary 6 students, and 70% of Secondary 4 students affected, alongside the National Myopia Prevention Programme focusing on education and screening since 2001.
Measures include promoting outdoor activities through initiatives like NurtureSG, which mandates at least 30 minutes outdoors daily for preschool children, and advocacy for more outdoor time after school and on weekends.
The Spectacles Voucher Fund, a partnership with Essilor since 2006, provides $50 vouchers for frames and free lenses to students on MOE financial assistance schemes to ensure affordability and accessibility of corrective eyewear.

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11 Sep 2017

Including Siblings in List of Persons Permitted to Contribute to CPF Accounts of Citizens and PRs for Payment of MediShield Life and ElderShield Premiums

Murali Pillai proposed including siblings as permissible contributors to CPF accounts for paying MediShield Life and ElderShield premiums to assist citizens and PRs with insufficient funds due to disabilities.
Gan Kim Yong responded that voluntary cash contributions to MediSave accounts are already allowed for siblings, which can cover premiums and other healthcare expenses, subject to annual contribution caps.
He added that the CPF Board permits direct premium payments from a sibling’s MediSave on a case-by-case basis if the insured lacks sufficient funds and is financially dependent on the sibling.
Gan Kim Yong assured that no one loses MediShield Life coverage due to affordability issues, as Additional Premium Support is available after subsidies and family help.

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11 Sep 2017

Percentage of CPF Members Who Have Nominated their Beneficiaries

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked about the percentage of CPF members who have nominated beneficiaries and whether they are informed of the Public Trustee’s fees for un-nominated funds.
As of end-December 2016, about half of all CPF members aged 16 and above had made a nomination.
Without a nomination, CPF savings go to the Public Trustee’s Office, which charges an administration fee published on its website.
The CPF Board informs members about the fee and encourages nominations through statements, social media, talks, roadshows, and website.
Members without a valid nomination are prompted to make one during the CPF Retirement Planning Service at age 54.

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11 Sep 2017

Exclusion of Overtime Pay in Workfare Income Supplement Computation of Monthly Salary

Liang Eng Hwa proposed excluding overtime pay from monthly salary calculations for the Workfare Income Supplement to address irregular allowances and prevent disincentives for overtime work near the $2,000 cut-off.
The Government considered but rejected excluding basic pay, overtime, and bonuses, as total income reflects what supports workers and their families.
Assessing total income ensures fairness in providing WIS support to low-wage workers without incentivizing reduced basic pay or increased overtime.

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11 Sep 2017

Extension of Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession to Persons/Siblings with Major Illnesses or Medical Conditions

Patrick Tay asked whether the foreign domestic worker levy concession could be extended to persons with major illnesses or medical conditions and their ill siblings.
The Minister for Manpower, Lim Swee Say, clarified that the concession is already available to households with family members aged 65 and above, children under 16, or persons certified to need help with daily activities.
The existing concession does not specifically include siblings or persons with major illnesses unless they meet the daily activity assistance criteria.
The debate centered on whether the current criteria should be expanded to cover more individuals with serious health conditions.
The government highlighted that the current framework already supports households with caregiving needs through the levy concession.

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11 Sep 2017

Cases where Government Assistance was Stopped due to Money Raised through Online Crowdfunding

The Ministry for Social and Family Development cited two cases in the past three years where social or medical assistance was stopped after applicants raised funds via online crowdfunding, as their households were assessed to have sufficient resources.
The Minister expressed concerns that inaccurate information in some crowdfunding campaigns could erode public trust and dampen charitable spirit, potentially disrupting the charity sector if not addressed.
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in crowdfunding, urging platforms to conduct due diligence and donors to remain vigilant and discerning when contributing.

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11 Sep 2017

Cost of Onboarding Social Service Offices and Ministry-supported VWOs to Social Service Net

The Social Service Net (SSNet) cost approximately $29 million for its development, rollout, and initial support, including devices for voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs).
The system was fully rolled out to Social Service Offices and Family Service Centres by February 2016, with ongoing expansion to other MSF-funded services in phases.
Early indications show SSNet improves efficiency by enabling faster information sharing between agencies and reducing redundant data collection for clients.
Some VWOs faced challenges adapting to standardised processes, but there is broad agreement on the system's benefits, with MSF providing ongoing support and review.

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11 Sep 2017

Pioneer Generation Package Coverage for Traditional Chinese Medicine Services

Miss Cheryl Chan asked whether Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services could be included under the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) and if MediSave incentives could be given to those who do not use PGP subsidies in a year to encourage staying healthy.
The Minister for Health responded that there are no plans to extend PGP subsidies to TCM, as the package is focused on hospital, polyclinic, and GP care, while TCM plays a complementary role and receives other government support.
The Minister noted that Pioneers receive annual MediSave top-ups and that staying healthy helps them save more for future needs, with additional measures like the "You Can Get Moving" campaign and free health screenings under the Screen for Life programme to promote wellness.

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11 Sep 2017

Changes in Benefits for Parking Labels for the Disabled

The Ministry revised the Car Park Label Scheme eligibility criteria to prioritize those who physically need extra space for boarding and alighting, such as users of bulky mobility aids, while assuring flexibility in assessing individual medical conditions.
Measures to curb abuse and improve accessibility include increased fines for misuse, ongoing public education, and a review of the Code on Accessibility to ensure adequate provision of accessible parking lots.
The Ministry highlighted the rising demand for accessible lots and outlined supplementary support schemes, such as enhanced taxi subsidies and public transport concessions, to assist persons with disabilities.

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1 Aug 2017

Successful Applicants for Additional CPF Housing Grant

The Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) has assisted about 93,100 households as of 30 June 2017, aimed at helping low-to-middle-income families buy their first homes.
A key qualification requires at least one applicant to have worked continuously for 12 months before the flat application and remain employed at the point of application, ensuring they can service the mortgage.
HDB exercises discretion and flexibility for households who fall short of the 12-month work condition due to valid reasons, such as recent graduation, and the Ministry continues to review policies to support deserving applicants.

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1 Aug 2017

Day Care Centres for Persons with Special Needs

There are currently 26 Day Activity Centres providing 1,380 places for adults with special needs, with an average waiting time of three to six months.
The government plans to open five new centres and expand existing ones by FY18, adding 420 places to reduce waiting times to one to two months.
Efforts are underway to enhance staff training and care quality, including the use of a common assessment tool and developing a competency framework for DAC personnel.

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