Eligibility of Unemployed Single Person above 35 years old with Disability for Additional CPF Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for National Development whether an unemployed single person above 35 years old with a disability is eligible for the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) and Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) when the person wishes to buy a HDB flat under the Singles Scheme.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The purchase of a flat is a long-term financial commitment. Hence, it is important for flat buyers to have steady employment to ensure that they are financially able to service the housing loan and sustain ownership of the flat over the long term.

HDB provides the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) and the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) to help low- to middle-income households buy their first homes. To assess the household's income fairly, we require at least one applicant to have worked continuously for at least 12 months prior to the flat application, and remain working at the point of flat application.

A person who is unfit for work due to disability may apply for the grants with eligible family members, or other eligible singles under the Joint Singles Scheme.

For cases where a person is unfit for work due to a disability, and would like to buy a flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme with the help of grants, he/she may approach HDB for assistance. HDB will assess such requests, taking into account whether the appellants are able to produce a medical certification that they are unfit for work due to illness or disability, and whether they are able to sustain the flat purchase over the long term without employment.