Annual Values as of 2022 Used to Determine Eligibility for Social Support Schemes in 2023
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns communication strategies regarding the impact of 2023 residential property Annual Value (AV) revisions on social support scheme eligibility and future plans for 2024. Senior Minister of State for Finance Chee Hong Tat clarified that 2023 eligibility remains unaffected because AVs as of 2022 are being utilized for assessment. He noted that many benefits, such as GST Voucher payments and Assurance Package top-ups, are disbursed automatically to eligible citizens without requiring formal applications. The Government is collaborating with the Silver Generation Office and using mass media to conduct face-to-face engagements and provide assurance to seniors. Furthermore, AV thresholds and social support criteria are regularly reviewed to ensure that Singaporeans in need continue to receive appropriate assistance.
Transcript
1 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance with the revision of Annual Values (AV) of most residential properties in 2023 (a) what are the communication plans to seniors that social support schemes will not be affected by this revision, as AVs as of 2022 will be used to determine scheme eligibility in 2023; and (b) what are the plans for scheme eligibility for 2024.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Chee Hong Tat) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, MOF had earlier issued a media statement to explain that the criteria for the Government’s social support schemes in 2023 will not be affected by the latest Annual Values (AVs) revision, as the AVs as of 2022 are used to determine scheme eligibility. We are also working with the Silver Generation Office (SGO) to engage seniors and provide them this assurance.
For many of our social support schemes, no application is required and Singaporeans receive the support automatically as long as they are eligible. These include the cash payments and MediSave top-ups under the GST Voucher scheme and the Assurance Package.
The Government regularly reviews our social support schemes, including the AV thresholds, to ensure that Singaporeans in need of support receive it.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. Just two supplementary questions. How will the Government monitor and encourage seniors who are eligible in 2023 to continue to apply for social support that needs application, as some may not know? And two, how much lead time will the Government give to let seniors and their families know the scheme eligibility in 2024?
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Sir, these are ongoing engagements and communications with our seniors. Part of it, we will go through the Silver Generation Office. The face-to-face interactions between our Silver Generation Ambassadors and the seniors would be helpful, to explain to them some of these schemes and what they are eligible for. We also rely on other means of communications, including the mass media.