Reviewing Income Eligibility Thresholds for Financial Assistance Schemes given Cost-of-Living Pressures

20 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development given global uncertainties and sustained cost-of-living pressures on low-income families, (a) whether the income eligibility thresholds for financial assistance schemes will be reviewed to ensure they remain adequate; and (b) whether ComCare short-to-medium-term assistance quantum is periodically benchmarked against core inflation and if not, whether Ministry will consider doing so.

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) reviews the ComCare per capita household income benchmark regularly. The current gross monthly per capita household income benchmark of $800 and below is an indicative benchmark and not a qualifying criterion. Families who are above the benchmark but have valid needs may still be assisted with ComCare on a case-by-case basis.

The ComCare assistance rates are also regularly adjusted to ensure adequate support. The ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term assistance quantum accounts for projected inflation.

For cost-of-living concerns, there is also support in other forms, such as the Assurance Package, which has been enhanced with additional cash, U-Save, service and conservancy charge rebates, and Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers over the years.

MSF is monitoring the situation closely on how the low-income families are being impacted by the current economic situations and conditions. We are prepared to make adjustments as needed.

Mr Speaker: Mr Cai.

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question is similar to the $200 cash disbursement for platform workers to cushion rising fuel prices. Can we also consider some immediate stopgap disbursement for ComCare recipients, especially those with young children who have very little buffers to begin with?

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Our reviews take into consideration data on expenditure for basic living needs, projected inflation and also views from social service professionals who work closely with our low-income families. The benchmark itself is not a criterion that automatically qualifies or disqualifies a household from ComCare. It approximates a gross monthly income at which households may qualify for assistance.

As mentioned in yesterday's clarification by my colleague, Minister of State Goh Pei Ming yesterday during the Ministerial Statement relating to the Middle East conflict, it was clarified that the ComCare assistance rates were reviewed only a year ago and MSF had already factored in some inflation assumptions so that the threshold is still within the buffer.

Besides this, there are also other general support and measures announced yesterday as well to provide enhanced support for Singaporean families, not just the lower-income households. For example, CDC vouchers of $500 will be brought forward to June 2026. The Cost-of-Living Special Payment has also been enhanced, and eligible Singaporeans can receive up to $400 to $600 in September 2026. For families who are on ComLink+, they are also eligible for the enhanced payout measures that have already been announced in this year's Budget and Committee of Supply.