Breakdown of Amount for Successful Payouts under COVID-19 Support Grant
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim’s request for a breakdown of the successful payouts under the COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG). Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that as of 3 January 2021, approximately 97,000 applicants were approved and $215 million was disbursed to support lower- to middle-income residents. Payouts consisted of up to $800 monthly for retrenchment or no-pay leave and $500 for significant salary loss, with a second tranche available for eligible recipients. Although CSG applications closed on 31 December 2020, Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M highlighted the launch of the COVID-19 Recovery Grant on 18 January 2021. This new scheme continues to support employees and self-employed persons whose livelihoods remain affected by the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic.
Transcript
42 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what is the breakdown of the amount for successful payouts under the COVID-19 Support Grant.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) supported lower- to middle-income resident employees who, as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, were:
(a) Involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment or contract termination;
(b) Placed on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) for at least three consecutive months; or
(c) Experiencing monthly salary loss of at least 30% for at least three consecutive months.
As of 3 January 2021, MSF had approved the CSG for around 97,000 applicants, and disbursed around $215 million in total. Successful applicants who experienced job loss or involuntary NPL may receive up to $800 per month for three months, and applicants who experienced salary loss may receive up to $500 per month for three months. Recipients of CSG could apply for a second tranche of support if they required further support and met the eligibility criteria.
Table 1 provides the number of approved CSG applications and the median amount of CSG payout per recipient per tranche of support (i.e. for three months). These figures are accurate as at 3 January 2021.
Applications for the CSG have closed on 31 December 2020. MSF launched the COVID-19 Recovery Grant on 18 January 2021 to support lower- to middle-income employees and self-employed persons whose livelihoods are affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.