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SINGAPORE: A total of S $ 151 million in ComCare cash assistance was disbursed to beneficiaries in fiscal year 2019, a 19 percent increase from the previous year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development said on Friday (9 October).
Overall, ComCare supported more low-income and vulnerable groups, MSF said in a press release. About 78,600 beneficiaries received assistance from ComCare in fiscal year 2019, which ended March 31 of this year, a 4 percent increase from the previous year.
ComCare supports low-income households with their living expenses and assistance is disbursed through schemes such as Short- and Medium-Term Assistance, Long-Term Assistance, Student Care Fee Assistance, and Interim Assistance Schemes .
An increase was also seen in all ComCare assistance schemes except Long Term Assistance, the ministry said in its annual report.
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The total number of households assisted in the Short- and Medium-Term Assistance, Long-term Assistance and Assistance with Student Care Rates schemes has remained relatively stable over the years, MSF said.
Approximately 64,400 people received short-to-medium-term assistance for their daily living expenses in fiscal year 2019, an increase of 5 percent.
The increase is likely to reflect the early economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and more households becoming eligible after adjustments to ComCare’s assessment criteria in July 2019, MSF said.
So far, 2,300 of the 6,300 households have been referred to the relevant agencies for further assistance, MSF said.
The proportion of households living in 1 to 2 bedroom apartments receiving short- or medium-term assistance also increased, from 46.7 percent in fiscal year 2015 to 52.1 percent in fiscal year 2019. Most were elderly, lived alone or with their spouse, and had limited family support.
“This increase is also in line with efforts to proactively reach vulnerable and low-income groups, such as households living in public rental flats,” said MSF.
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Approximately 9,600 children received assistance with student care fees in fiscal year 2019, an increase of 6 percent. This is because more student care centers are being established in schools, with 185 centers in schools in fiscal 2019, up from 170 the previous year.
However, the number of people who received long-term assistance decreased by about 3 percent, to about 4,400 in fiscal year 2019, MSF said. People 65 and older made up about 80 percent of all long-term care recipients, according to MSF’s trends report.
The number of people receiving Interim Assistance also increased by 16 percent, and about 7,700 people received assistance in fiscal year 2019. Interim Assistance plans provide immediate financial assistance to individuals and families in need of temporary financial assistance.
DURATION OF COMCARE SUPPORT EXTENDED IN SIX MONTHS
Over the past decade, the government has strengthened its social safety nets and put in place a set of measures covering the adequacy of education, health care, housing, employment and retirement for Singaporeans, MSF said.
To provide existing recipients with a “longer track” to regain stability during the economic downturn, MSF also automatically extended the duration of its ComCare assistance by six months.
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This applies to ComCare households whose assistance must be reviewed between May and October 2020, MSF said.
“New ComCare recipients in this period will also generally receive at least six months of assistance, to give them a longer track to regain stability,” he added.
Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli said there was a “widespread increase” in the number of people who received support from ComCare in the last financial year, as well as a significant 20 to 30 percent increase in applications for ComCare in recent years. months compared to the same period last year.
“As social needs grow and economic prospects remain uncertain, we will continue to reach out to those in need and focus our resources on those in greatest need.
“Households in public rental apartments made up half of the beneficiaries, reinforcing the need to continue our ongoing outreach through SG Cares community networks,” said Mr. Masagos.
MSF said it will continue to monitor the trend of households needing help. You will also work closely with other government agencies and community partners to provide support and assistance to individuals and families in need.
