Number of Rejected Applications for COVID-19 Support Grant due to Income Criterion
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the number of COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) applications rejected due to gross monthly household income exceeding $10,000 or per capita income exceeding $3,100. Ms Ng Ling Ling inquired about applicants who met all other criteria, including a 30% income drop, but were disqualified by these caps. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that of 133,000 applications, over 83,000 were approved while approximately 2,500 were rejected for exceeding income limits. He clarified that these figures were current as of 27 September 2020 and that around 4,000 applications were still being processed. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M added that Social Service Offices can exercise flexibility for appeals on a case-by-case basis for those with extenuating circumstances.
Transcript
8 Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development how many applications for the COVID-19 Support Grant have been rejected due to applicants' prior gross monthly household income exceeding $10,000 per month or $3,100 per capita income despite the fall in their income significantly, exceeding more than 30%, and all other criteria being met.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) supports lower- to middle-income resident employees who, as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, are presently:
(i) Involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment or contract termination;
(ii) Placed on involuntary no-pay leave for at least three consecutive months; or
(iii) Experiencing reduced monthly salary of at least 30% for at least three consecutive months.
As of 27 September 2020, around 133,000 individuals had applied for the CSG. Of these, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) approved the CSG for more than 83,000 applicants. About 46,000 applicants were unsuccessful, and around 4,000 applications were being processed.
Of the 46,000 applicants who were unsuccessful, about 2,500 applicants were rejected due to their prior gross monthly household income exceeding $10,000 and monthly per capita income exceeding $3,100 (some of them might have also failed to meet other eligibility criteria). We do not have further breakdown of this 2,500 figure. Applicants who wish to appeal can either call the ComCare Call Hotline or approach MSF's Social Service Offices (SSOs). MSF's SSOs will assess these applications on a case-by-case basis, and can exercise some flexibility to support households in extenuating circumstances even if they exceed the prior household income criterion.