The Social Service Office (SSO)

Your One Stop Service Centre at each HDB Town

The Social Service Office (SSO) was created by the Ministry of Social & Family Development about 2 years ago to bring Social Assistance closer to the community. Till date there are 20 known SSOs all over Singapore, each looking after a HDB Town (i.e. Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Chua Chu Kang, Geylang Serai, Jalan Besar, Jurong East, Kreta Ayer, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun).

The social assistance schemes were previously disbursed by the 5 Community Development Councils (CDC) (i.e. Central Singapore CDC, North East CDC, North West CDC, South East CDC and South West CDC). With the SSOs, there will be more touch points in the community for needy families to turn to for help.

Most of the SSO work in partnership with the CDC as well as Workforce Development Agency (WDA), as shown on the logos of their centres (Example - http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/new-social-service-office-bukit-batok). The WDA provides Employment Assistance and training support for those needy families that come forth to seek assistance.

In all, even though there is provision of social assistance, free money (from taxpayers) will not be dished out without conditions. Families are expected to work on improving their situation to qualify for social assistance.

I will share more about social assistance provided by the SSO in my next post.

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big