Eligibility of Unemployed Single Person above 35 years old with Disability for Additional CPF Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the eligibility of unemployed disabled singles over age 35 for the Additional CPF Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant as raised by Mr Zainal Sapari. Minister Lawrence Wong stated that although grant eligibility typically requires 12 months of continuous employment, HDB prioritizes ensuring applicants can sustain long-term flat ownership. Individuals unfit for work due to disability may apply with family or through the Joint Singles Scheme, or seek direct assistance from HDB. HDB evaluates these cases based on medical certification of the disability and the applicant's ability to maintain the purchase without employment. This approach allows flexibility for disabled individuals who can demonstrate they are financially able to service a housing loan and sustain ownership.
Transcript
64 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for National Development whether an unemployed single person above 35 years old with a disability is eligible for the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) and Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) when the person wishes to buy a HDB flat under the Singles Scheme.
Mr Lawrence Wong: The purchase of a flat is a long-term financial commitment. Hence, it is important for flat buyers to have steady employment to ensure that they are financially able to service the housing loan and sustain ownership of the flat over the long term.
HDB provides the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) and the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) to help low- to middle-income households buy their first homes. To assess the household's income fairly, we require at least one applicant to have worked continuously for at least 12 months prior to the flat application, and remain working at the point of flat application.
A person who is unfit for work due to disability may apply for the grants with eligible family members, or other eligible singles under the Joint Singles Scheme.
For cases where a person is unfit for work due to a disability, and would like to buy a flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme with the help of grants, he/she may approach HDB for assistance. HDB will assess such requests, taking into account whether the appellants are able to produce a medical certification that they are unfit for work due to illness or disability, and whether they are able to sustain the flat purchase over the long term without employment.