FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Community Development and Sports (a) how many people received financial assistance under the various schemes in 2000, 2001 and the first six months of this year; (b) how much money was given out to Singaporeans in need under each scheme; (c) what are the criteria used to assess candidates under each scheme; and (d) apart from social workers, how are the others who handle such cases trained to assess cases and handle matters of confidentiality.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The CDCs took over the administration of the social assistance schemes and services from the Ministry of Community Development and Sports with effect from 1st April 2001. The CDCs have helped almost 15,000 beneficiaries with financial assistance amounting to $14.99 million between April 2001 and March 2002.

The various schemes have specific eligibility criteria to meet certain policy objectives. For example, a beneficiary under the Public Assistance Scheme must satisfy the criteria that he/she is unable to work because of age, illness or disability and has no means of subsistence as well as no one to depend on. On the other hand, the CDCs also administer the Interim (Short-Term) Financial Assistance Scheme (IFAS) where the amount of assistance is based on Public Assistance rates, with each case assessed on its own merits. The officers take a holistic approach by looking at both the individual as well as family circumstances before rendering the most appropriate form of assistance.

Besides on-the-job training, the CDC officers undergo training to equip them with the skills to assess and handle applications for social assistance. MCDS is also organising a joint CDC-FSC training package to be launched in August 2002 to strengthen the networking between staff dealing with low-income families. The specific amounts disbursed under each scheme are given in the tables below. Number of Beneficiaries by Schemes April 00 - April 01 - New Cases March 01 March 02 for April - June 02 Public Assistance 2,582 2,779 145 Scheme & Special Grant Small Families 1,050 1,142 5 Improvement Scheme Rent & Utilities 629 836 207 Assistance Scheme Interim (Short- 770 5,779 1,775 Term) Financial Assistance Scheme Centre Based 234 652 327 Financial (as at Dec 00) Assistance Scheme for Childcare Fee Assistance for not 3,762 1,400 Student Care available Total 5,265 14,950 3,859 Amount Disbursed by Schemes Schemes April 01 - March 02 Public Assistance Scheme & $6,728,919.60 Special Grant Small Families Improvement $1,084,978.16 Scheme Rent & Utilities Assistance $ 602,004.57 Scheme Interim (Short-Term) Financial $2,203,471.31 Assistance Scheme Centre Based Financial $1,566,109.38 Assistance Scheme for Childcare Fee Assistance for Student $2,813,016.83 Care Total $14,998,499.85

MCDS Delegated Schemes

Public Assistance (PA) Scheme

Provides a monthly grant to financially distressed Singaporeans who by reason of age, illness, disability or unfavourable family circumstances, are unable to work and have no means of subsistence as well as no one to depend upon. Monthly allowances range from $230 for a single-person household to $670 for a household comprising 4 or more persons.

Recipients also receive supportive assistance such as free medical benefits at Government/restructured hospitals and Government outpatient clinics. School going children are referred to MOE for supportive assistance and the elderly above 60 years old are matched with volunteers from the Lions Befrienders for assistance in their daily needs.

Special Grant

Similar to PA Scheme except that the Special Grant is meant to assist non-Singapore citizens.

Interim (Short-term) Financial Assistance Scheme [IFAS]

Monthly grant is given to help applicants to tide over a difficult period of time. The rates are based on the quantum for Public Assistance but may vary depending on the needs of each case.

Rent & Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS)

Provides short-term relief to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents staying in one, two- or three-room HDB rental flats who are genuinely unable to pay their rent/utilities/conservancy charges. The scheme also assists these families experiencing hardship to move towards self-sufficiency through various support programmes/services provided by participating voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). Eligibility Criteria

(a) Single-parent household with dependent children and without other means of support;

(b) Family members suffering from chronic illness; or physical, or intellectual or mental disability;

(c) A household of elderly person/s above age of 60 years and without other means of support;

(d) Principal Wage Earner passed away, or abandoned or deserted the family, or separated from them;

(e) Principal Wage Earner detained or imprisoned.

Centre-Based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC)

A child care financial assistance scheme for lower-income families, CFAC subsidy is provided on top of the existing Government subsidies to purchase child care services for their pre-schoolers below 7 years old. It also provides one-off assistance up to a maximum of $1,000 to help lower-income families meet the start-up costs for placing their children in a child care programme.

The scheme aims to improve the developmental opportunities for children from low-income families and also assists working parents, especially mothers, to return or remain in the labour force. Subsidy ranges from $50 to $250 per child per month. CFAC is extended to all registered child care centres in Singapore and children in the first to fourth birth order of the family qualify for the scheme.

Small Families Improvement Scheme (SFIS)

Aims to help lower income couples who intend to stay together to keep their families small and to better themselves. It helps families to buy their own HDB flats and to pay for their children's education. The scheme is also extended to widows who have children with educational needs.

Eligibility Criteria

For couple

(a) The family must be complete - consisting of husband, wife and one child or two children;

(b) At least one spouse must be a Singapore citizen. The other must be either a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident of Singapore;

(c) The wife is 40 years of age or below;

(d) Both husband and wife do not have any GCE O' or GCE N' level passes; and

(e) Both husband and wife earn less than $750 each a month at the time of the application. For widow

(a) She must have either one child or two children, one of whom is below 7 years of age or is attending school;

(b) She is a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident of Singapore;

(c) She is 40 years of age or below;

(d) She does not have any GCE O' or GCE N' level passes; and

(e) She earns less than $750 a month at the time of the application.

Assistance Received

(a) Annual Conditional Housing Grant of $1,200, which is credited into the wife's/widow's CPF account. The money can be kept in the CPF account or be used to buy a HDB flat; and

(b) Annual Education Bursary ranging from $400 to $1,200 per child depending on the child's educational level.

Fee Assistance for Student Care

Given to eligible parents who place their children in non-profit Student Care Centres (SCCs). This is to ensure that SCCs are within the reach of parents who need to provide their children with an alternative form of day-care arrangement before and after school hours but are unable to afford the fees.

Eligibility Criteria

(a) At least one parent must be a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident;

(b) The mother/single father is working full-time or part-time regularly;

(c) The combined gross monthly income of both parents not exceeding $2,500;

(d) The child attending the centre must be: a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident; 7 to 14 years of age; schooling.