ComCare Public Assistance Scheme (II)

Based on the criteria set, one can safely assume that the majority of the beneficiaries are elderly and disabled Singaporeans who do not have family or kin to readily support them.

In Singapore, where cost of living is much higher now, the costs involved in taking care of the disadvantaged group would also be high. Costs for food and medical bills are one big concern for someone without monetary support. The Public Assistance (PA) scheme helps alleviate some of these pressing needs through cash assistance and free medical treatments.

The PA scheme has been around since the end of World War Two (July 1946) and the monthly cash payout has increased to meet the cost of living. When the scheme just started, monthly cash payouts for one person ranged from $2 to $5. Subsequently, the assistance for a one person household has risen to $40 (1976), $60 (1980), $120 (1988), $200 (1997) and $360 (2009).

(Source: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1613_2009-11-30.html?v=1&utm_expid=85360850-6.qNOOYF40RhKK6gXsQEaAJA.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.sg%2F)

The cash assistance has been the hallmark of PA scheme, and this was enhanced in 2013. The inclusion of secondary and discretionary tiers of assistance aims to better meet the needs of beneficiaries who have difficulties with costs of essential items that the cash assistance is not able to cover for.

(Source: http://app.msf.gov.sg/Press-Room/Public-Assistance-PA-Scheme-Enhanced)

Looking at the enhancements to the PA scheme, the Government probably have recognized that (i) the elderly group are getting older and their needs in healthcare has increased, and (ii) people with special needs and disabilities have more community support for them to lead a better, meaningful life. All these would need the Government to step in with additional support so that the beneficiaries can achieve a decent lifestyle without compromising on their basic need (i.e. using cash assistance to pay for food, accommodation and transport etc).

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big

ComCare Public Assistance Scheme (I)

The ComCare Public Assistance (PA) Scheme is a long term support for Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

Some of the criteria as follow:

• Unable to work due to old age, illness or unfavorable family circumstances
• Have no means of stable income
• Are elderly persons who receive only a small monthly payout from CPF Minimum Sum/ CPF Life, Pension, Eldershield, Lease Buyback Scheme, and the monthly payout is lower than the prevailing PA rates
• Are elderly persons whose children are low income themselves and unable to support their parents. The children must be supporting their own families and each have household income $1,700 or below

Assistance provided includes:

• Cash assistance to support daily living expenses
• Additional cash assistance for children to support their out of pocket expenses
• Secondary tier of assistance to help those with recurring hygiene essentials or consumables
• Discretionary tier of assistance to help those with one off special needs
• Free medical treatment at polyclinics and government/restructured hospitals
• Educational assistance for school going children of PA recipients for school and miscellaneous fees as well as school books
• Supplementary community assistance that are funded by the Government 

(Source: http://app.msf.gov.sg/Assistance/ComCare-Public-Assistance)

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big

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