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The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will be
providing more help to needy families through the following initiatives: |
(i) Enhancement to the Public Assistance
Scheme;
(ii) A new ComCare Transitions Scheme to help
needy persons who are temporarily unable to work;
(iii) More help for children from needy
families to attend kindergarten and childcare centres; and
(iv) More resources for Grassroots
Organisations, Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Self-Help
Groups to help the needy.
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These initiatives are on-top of the 2007 enhancements to the ComCare
Fund (see Annex A). In total, MCYS expects to spend $16.1 million more
in FY08. The new initiatives are expected to help an additional 10,500
needy cases. As at end Dec 2007, there were about 17,500 cases receiving
assistance under the ComCare schemes. |
The ComCare Fund budget for FY08 is $63.7 million, up by 34% from the
$47.6 million for FY07. MCYS also provides other social services for the
low-income and the needy, such as homes, family service centres, senior
activity centres, and other social infrastructure. In all, the
expenditure for FY07 on help for the low-income and needy is $147.4
million. This figure is projected to increase to $168 million in the
coming year. |
Enhancement to the Public Assistance Scheme |
The Public Assistance allowance is calibrated to provide for the
basic living needs of PA recipients. At the same time, the
allowance is only one of four components of help they receive. The
other three components include: |
(i) Additional Government subsidies viz free medical treatment,
subsidised rental, utilities and service, conservancy charges
rebates and education subsidies.
(ii) Additional payouts for low income and elderly from the GST
Offset package, Senior Citizens’ Bonus as well as Growth Dividends.
(iii) Community support from Voluntary Welfare Organisations.
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Increase in Public Assistance Allowance
Rates |
MCYS will increase Public Assistance rates,
to give Public Assistance recipients more assurance that they can meet
their basic needs. |
Recipients can expect an increase of between
$40 and $165 a month, depending on their household type. An elderly
Public Assistance recipient living alone will see a 14% increase from
$290 a month to $330 a month. A family with two adults and two children
will see their assistance increase by 19% from $855 to $1,020 a month,
while families with five or more persons will see their assistance
increase by 17 percent from $940 a month to $1,100 a month. (See Annex B
for details) |
More..... |
Source:
www.mcys.gov.sg Media Release
5 Mar 2008 |
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