Extension of $300 Government Payout to Long-Term Visit Pass Plus Holders who are Spouses of Singaporeans as COVID-19 Measures
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the $300 Solidarity Payment, provided to Permanent Residents and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Plus holders with Singaporean family members, should extend to LTVP holders who are spouses of Singaporeans. MP Murali Pillai queried the rationale for this distinction, noting that LTVP spouses are also integral members of local households needing support during the pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat explained that the exclusion maintains alignment with existing residency-based schemes, although these families still benefit from household rebates like GST Voucher – U-Save and S&CC. He highlighted that LTVP holders can seek employment and access the COVID-19 Support Grant or ComCare through Social Service Offices if they face financial hardship. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat assured that the government would exercise flexibility in providing aid to ensure that no affected Singaporean family is denied necessary assistance.
Transcript
23 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in respect of the payment of $300 to Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Plus holders who are spouses of Singaporeans, whether such a payment may also be extended to LTVP holders who are spouses of Singaporeans.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (Mr Heng Swee Keat): The Solidarity Payment is aimed at providing timely support to Singaporean households during this challenging period of heightened safe distancing.
Arising from concerns over some Singaporean families with non-citizen members, we decided to extend the one-off $300 payment to Permanent Residents and LTVP+ holders who have a Singaporean parent, spouse or child.
While Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders who are spouses of Singaporeans are not eligible for the Solidarity Payment, they are able to take up employment to support their families. They also receive benefits as part of a Singaporean household, such as GST Voucher – U-Save rebates and special payments, and Service and Conservancy Charges rebates.
If they or their Singaporean family need further financial support during this challenging period, they may seek help through their MSF Social Service Offices, which provide assistance to those who fall into financial hardship. The assistance provided includes the COVID-19 Support Grant. We will exercise more flexibility when considering ComCare applications during this period, to ensure affected Singaporean families can get help.
There are also many Social Service Agencies and those in the community providing support to families in need.
Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok): Sir, I thank the hon Deputy Prime Minister for his comprehensive answer to my question, and also, his assurance given to Singaporean families with LTVP holders as well, in terms of the help that can be given to the families. My query is in relation to the policy reason for carving out LTVP holders from the LTVP+ holders who would be able to get Solidarity payments, given as I understand the rationale behind the issuing of Solidarity payments to Singapore PRs and the LTVP+ holders is really to help the family. LTVP holders who are spouses are also part of the families as well.
Mr Heng Swee Keat: I thank the Member for the follow-up question. For LTVP and LTVP+, we have in our system different sets of support for various schemes for different groups of people, one of them being their residential status. So, we need some clear alignment of this. Therefore, this is a way that we are aligning this, with existing schemes that we have. Bear in mind that this support is for a very urgent situation and therefore, we have extended it to a wide range. There are already many support schemes, as I have said.
The assurance that I would like to give Mr Murali is that, as I have said, if families need support, they can approach our Social Service Agencies and many other service agencies that are providing this support. No one will be denied support just because of this particular status.