More workers received support from the labour movement this year, which gave out $9.1 million to low income union members and their families. This is an increase from the $8.75 million given out lst year through assistance programmes under the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) U Care Fund. There are more than 880,000 NTUC members.
The rise in disbursed funds may be due to factors such as more members receiving U Stretch vouchers, which support low income families, according to Ms Phyllis Lim, deputy director of the NTUC Care and Share department, which handles fund-raising and assistance programmes.
Some 24,922 members received the vouchers this year, around 500 more than last year. The value of its Family Recreation & Fun Carnival package was increased from $100 to $150. It follows a review of qualifying criteria under the U Care Fund this year, which could have contributed to the slight increase in U Stretch voucher recipients, according to Mr Zainal Sapari, NTUC assistance secretary-general.
To be eligible, members should have a gross monthly household income of not more than $3,000, up from $2,800. When the gross household income exceed $3,000, members can apply if their per capita income does not exceed $750, up from $725. The gross personal income ceiling for members without dependents in the same household rose to $1,450 from $1,400. The reviewed criteria are pegged to the bottom 20 per cent of household income.
NTUC reviews the criteria each year, in line with trends, to stay relevant. It also considers appeals on a case by case basis to extend the help to as many low income members as possible.
Thoughts:
- I sometimes wonder if the increase in recipients is a good sign or not. It can mean better outreach and awareness, or easier to apply for those who are in need. It can also mean that more people actually are in need of help and come forth to apply. It is hard to actually decipher the underlying cause.
Thoughts anyone?
Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big
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