Number of Self-employed Persons Receiving Financial Support from Social Assistance Schemes

27 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each year since 2019 (a) what is the number of self-employed persons who applied for and received financial support from social assistance schemes; (b) what is the monetary quantum disbursed (i) on average and (ii) as a proportion of the applicant's yearly net trade income; and (c) what are the three most common types of schemes that rendered such support.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: We generally do not collect information on clients' occupation for our social assistance schemes, as such information is not used in our assessments.

However, during COVID-19, there were schemes that catered specifically to self-employed persons. Around $390 million of support was provided to about 50,000 taxi and private hire car drivers via the Special Relief Fund and COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund. About 200,000 persons received assistance under the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme, which provided a payment of $9,000 each to eligible individuals. We do not have readily available data on the disbursement quantum as a proportion of applicants' income.