Social welfare — Topics

24 Mar 2016

Breakdown of Account Balances by Gender of CPF Members

Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Manpower to provide the average CPF balances by gender and a breakdown by age groups.
In 2015, males had an average net CPF balance of $86,000 and females $76,000, with the gender gap narrowing from 21% in 2005 to 14% in 2015.
The male-to-female ratio of average CPF balances is lower for younger age groups and increases for older age groups.

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24 Mar 2016

Feedback from Public Consultation on Fresh Start Housing Scheme

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Ministry for National Development for an update on the public consultation feedback for the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, which aims to help second-timer families with young children in rental housing to own a home again.
The consultation revealed broad agreement that the scheme must include guidance and support for families, not just housing grants and flats, and that beneficiaries must commit to finding jobs and maintaining stable incomes.
There was a strong emphasis on ensuring children attend school regularly to secure a better future, with the scheme focusing on holistic support to help families solve their problems.
Based on the feedback, the Ministry is now working out the detailed parameters for the scheme and plans to announce more details soon, while welcoming continued public input.

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24 Mar 2016

CPF Special or Retirement Account Funds for Mortgage Arrears

Zainal Sapari asked if HDB could allow homeowners without sufficient Ordinary Account savings to use their CPF Special or Retirement Account funds to manage mortgage arrears.
Lim Swee Say explained that CPF Ordinary Account savings can be used for housing costs, while Special Account funds are reserved for retirement, though limited flexibility exists for Retirement Account savings in certain cases.
He noted HDB offers measures like installment reductions, deferrals, or downsizing to help homeowners manage arrears, balancing housing support with protecting retirement savings.

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24 Mar 2016

Annual Budget Statement

The Finance Minister outlined a budget focused on economic transformation and social care, launching a $4.5 billion Industry Transformation Programme to support businesses and workers through enterprise innovation, sector-specific strategies, and partnerships, amid global economic headwinds.
The budget included immediate support for businesses, such as a higher Corporate Income Tax rebate, extended Special Employment Credit for older workers, and new SME working capital loans, while tapering broad-based measures like the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) to target resources more effectively.
It enhanced social safety nets, notably introducing the Silver Support Scheme for low-income seniors, expanding Workfare Income Supplement for low-wage workers, and creating a new Child Development Account First Step grant, all aimed at building a caring and resilient society.

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24 Mar 2016

Criteria for Disbursement of Opportunity Fund Grant to Schools

The Opportunity Fund Grant, introduced in 2006 and extended to polytechnics in 2013, provides disbursements to schools and institutions based on their number of Singapore Citizen students and the percentage of MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) recipients, with an annual total of about $23.5 million across all levels.
The grant can be used for overseas trips, enrichment programmes, and access to ICT, with schools having flexibility to decide specific programmes and student allocations, benefiting approximately 67,000 students yearly.
Funds are disbursed to schools and institutes of higher learning on a three-year cycle with annual adjustments, and the utilisation rate for the 2013–2015 cycle was about 80%.

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24 Mar 2016

Reviewing Grant for Families to Hire Foreign Domestic Workers for Care of Disabled Elderly

The Foreign Domestic Worker Grant provides a $120 monthly subsidy to households hiring helpers for seniors or moderately disabled individuals, with about 6,200 households receiving it in 2015 and total government spending reaching $20.6 million since 2012.
The government offers additional support through a reduced $60 concessionary levy and cash payouts for Pioneer Generation seniors, with no current plans to increase the grant or waive the levy further.
Eligibility for the grant requires the elderly person to be a Permanent Resident aged 65 or above, with the caregiver being a Singaporean; non-citizen foreigners do not qualify.
The government continues to monitor the grant’s adequacy and reviews other schemes like IDAPE and ElderShield to support families caring for elderly with disabilities.
Questions were raised about expanding the grant, such as waiving the levy for those over 80, but the response emphasized existing measures and ongoing reviews rather than immediate changes.

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24 Mar 2016

Approach in Tackling Homeless Cases

The Ministry of Social and Family Development provided assistance to an average of 300 homeless cases annually from 2005 to 2015, with numbers slightly declining in recent years.
A 2014 study found that homeless families often faced issues like divorce and financial difficulties, prompting a strategy to address underlying problems through employment aid, counselling, and links to community services.
The Ministry collaborates with other government bodies and community organizations to provide housing support, transitional shelters, and long-term solutions for homeless individuals and families.

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24 Mar 2016

Homes for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

The Ministry reported six Adult Disability Homes with 650 places, with a six to 12 month average waiting time for admission, though urgent cases wait less than a month.
Additional residential options and community-based care are available, and the Ministry plans to open a new home in Sembawang and expand total places to 1,600 by 2018.
A Member highlighted cases of families struggling to find placements and questioned how waiting times could be shortened, with the Ministry committing to review services and explore further options.

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24 Mar 2016

Compensation for National Servicemen Injured During Service Period

The Ministry of Defence provides comprehensive support for National Servicemen injured during service, including covering all medical expenses for treatment at government or restructured hospitals, even after service or if injuries recur.
Compensation for permanent disabilities from service-related injuries is provided, equivalent to the Work Injury Compensation Act but doubled for military training or operations, with additional amounts for total permanent disability.
Welfare support is available through the SAF Benevolent Fund, which offers a $12,000 one-off grant for immediate needs and up to $42,000 annually for mid-to-long-term assistance, with eligibility re-assessed every two years and no renewal limit.
The SAF Care Fund provides a one-off Helping Hand Grant of up to $5,000 and a monthly $300 Care Support Grant, with eligibility re-assessed every three years and no renewal limit.
These assistance schemes aim to ensure the well-being of injured National Servicemen and their families, with no specified caps on the amounts or tenures for most grants, subject to periodic re-assessment.

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24 Mar 2016

Number of Single Parents who Have Successfully Applied for HDB Flats under ASSIST

Up to May 2015, 230 single parents applied under ASSIST, with 97% (223) successfully shortlisted for flat selection, and HDB provides sufficient flats annually for such applicants.
Of 85 ASSIST applicants who sought financial help, over half received assistance, mainly for resale levies, while others were advised to buy within budget or defer purchase; about 800 divorced/widowed parents were assisted with rental housing in 2015.
HDB incorporates resale levies into BTO flat payments to spread costs over time and provides financial counselling, but advises against purchases that would create unaffordable burdens.

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14 Mar 2016

Regulating Private Businesses or Individuals who Collect Donations for Charitable Causes

Denise Phua Lay Peng asked about the permissions and safeguards governing businesses or individuals collecting public donations for charitable causes.
Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that fund-raising for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes in Singapore is regulated under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012, which require clear disclosure, proper management of donations, and accounting records.
Fund-raisers for foreign charitable causes must obtain a permit from the Commissioner of Charities, while local appeals do not require a permit but may need a police licence for public or house-to-house collections.
The public can verify fund-raising appeals via the Charity Portal or SMS service, and the Commissioner of Charities can investigate violations and restrict or prohibit improper appeals.
Fund-raisers must ensure the legitimacy of their causes, and the public is advised to remain vigilant to avoid improper fund-raising activities.

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14 Mar 2016

Helping Pioneers Sign Up for Pioneer Generation Package and Understand MediShield Life

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about the progress of Pioneer Generation Ambassadors (PGAs) in contacting the 450,000 Pioneers, the number of seniors not covered by the Pioneer Generation Package, and whether PGAs could also help non-Pioneers understand MediShield Life.
As of February 2016, 3,000 PGAs had visited 240,000 Pioneers (about 60%), and the program will continue reaching the remaining Pioneers with details on the Package and MediShield Life.
Mass communication efforts and community outreach have raised awareness, with 96% of Pioneers aware of the Package and 87% feeling assured about affordable healthcare costs.
MediShield Life outreach extends beyond Pioneers to all Singaporeans through dialogues, roadshows, and financial counselling, with over 32,000 reached via more than 100 events.

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14 Mar 2016

Hospital Claims for Patients Warded before MediShield Life Effective Date

The Minister clarified that MediShield Life coverage applies only to hospital admissions on or after 1 November 2015, with patients admitted before that date continuing under the old MediShield scheme.
It was noted that existing government subsidies, Medisave usage, and Medifund are available to help patients with healthcare costs, and MOH has publicised these transition arrangements.
Lim Biow Chuan raised a concern about an older patient who aged out of pre-MediShield Life coverage and suggested automatic eligibility under MediShield Life without needing discharge and re-admission.
The Minister responded that a universal scheme cannot address every unique circumstance but encouraged the resident to contact MOH for case-specific assistance and potential financial support.
The debate highlighted the need for flexibility in handling edge cases during the transition to MediShield Life, with MOH committing to review individual cases.

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14 Mar 2016

Help for Singaporeans to Obtain Subsidised Rates at Public Hospitals after Expiration of Employer-provided Healthcare Insurance

All Singaporeans can choose subsidised ward classes at public hospitals and receive financial counselling to select appropriate options, with case-by-case assessments for those wishing to switch from non-subsidised to subsidised care.
The Ministry of Health emphasises targeted subsidies based on genuine financial need, declining to waive means-testing for those who previously used employer insurance, while working to streamline processes with medical social workers for timely assistance.
Efforts are ongoing to promote portable medical benefits through employer contributions to Medisave and MediShield Life, which is universal and independent of employers, to support healthcare coverage beyond employment.

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14 Mar 2016

Use of CPF Retirement Account Savings for Diploma and Degree Courses

Miss Cheng Li Hui proposed allowing parents to use their CPF Retirement Account (RA) savings for their children's full-time subsidised tertiary education, citing later marriages and the need to support children's education during parents' retirement years.
The Minister for Manpower, Mr Lim Swee Say, outlined existing CPF Education Scheme rules that permit using Ordinary Account (OA) savings for education and noted that RA funds can be used for education if members have property pledges or are still working, but emphasised that doing so may compromise retirement adequacy.
The Minister highlighted that alternative financing options such as student loans, bursaries, and education assistance schemes are available, and argued that allowing RA use for education could conflict with the CPF's primary objective of securing retirement savings.
In response, Miss Cheng Li Hui argued that the government should permit RA usage with repayment obligations, especially for lower- and middle-income families who may not secure sufficient loans, while the Minister reiterated that the government's education loan schemes already cover full tuition and living costs.
The debate concluded with a focus on balancing the importance of education investment with the need to protect retirement adequacy, without a clear consensus on relaxing RA withdrawal rules for educational purposes.

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1 Mar 2016

Pensioners' Out-of-pocket Medical Expenses since Implementation of MediShield Life

Mr Png Eng Huat asked whether pensioners' out-of-pocket medical expenses have changed since MediShield Life started and if all pensioners know about free MediShield Life for their spouses.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that pensioners have not paid higher out-of-pocket costs and may pay less with MediShield Life, while the government covers premiums for pensioners and dependents on certain schemes.
The Public Service Division has informed eligible pensioners, held engagement sessions, and maintains a hotline to address queries about the MediShield Life arrangements.

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1 Mar 2016

Pioneer Generation Fund (Amendment) Bill

The Pioneer Generation Fund (Amendment) Bill 2016 introduces two technical amendments to clarify that the Pioneer Generation Package benefits are not based on financial need, ensuring all Pioneers receive similar support regardless of financial status.
The amendments, to sections 3 and 27 of the Pioneer Generation Fund Act 2014, address concerns raised by former NMP Ms Chia Yong Yong to avoid any doubt that the fund could be restricted to those needing financial help.
The benefits covered include Medisave top-ups, MediShield Life premium subsidies, and additional healthcare subsidies at various clinics and the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme.
The Bill was read a Second time, considered in Committee, and passed without amendments.

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1 Mar 2016

HDB Rental Flats for Displaced and Homeless Individuals

MP Faisal asked for statistics on homeless displacement periods, the percentage of unsuccessful rental flat applications, and measures to flag at-risk cases at application, with the Ministry responding that they supported over 900 homeless individuals and families from 2013 to 2015.
The Ministry stated that about half of those assisted applied for a rental flat, with about half of those applications successful, and that unsuccessful applicants often had other housing options, while agencies work together to explore alternatives.
The Ministry explained that HDB considers case-by-case flexibility for vulnerable families and that agencies coordinate to identify and support those at risk, but it could not comment on future homelessness trends, assuring continued close collaboration with community partners.

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29 Feb 2016

Flats Available under HDB's Interim Rental Housing Scheme

The Interim Rental Housing Scheme currently provides about 500 flats, accommodating around 1,000 families through flat-sharing arrangements.
HDB has increased its public rental flat supply from 42,000 units in 2007 to 53,000 units, with a target of 60,000 by 2017, to ensure sufficient availability.
Applications are carefully evaluated to prioritize rental flats for lower-income and vulnerable households, ensuring adequate housing for those in need.

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29 Feb 2016

Applications by Homeless Singaporeans for HDB Rental Flats

From 2013 to 2015, 400 homeless Singaporeans applied for HDB public rental flats, with about half of these applications being successful, and those who were unsuccessful often had other housing options or existing housing arrangements.
The government provided shelter to around 900 individuals and families through MSF during this period, and those without a place to stay are assisted by social service agencies with temporary shelter while seeking alternative accommodation.
HDB, MSF, and social service agencies collaborate to address underlying causes of housing instability, offering counselling, financial assistance, employment support, and flexible housing options for deserving cases.

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