Purchase of BTO Flats under Assistance for Second-Timer Scheme for Divorced Parents

19 Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for National Development (a) in each year of the last three years, how many families have purchased HDB BTO flats under the Assistance for Second-Timer (ASSIST) scheme for divorced parents; and (b) whether HDB will consider raising the qualifying age of the children staying with the parents from 18 years and below to 25 years and below.

Mr Desmond Lee: From 2017 to 2019, a total of 212 second-timer applicants were successful in applying for a flat from HDB under the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents) or ASSIST. Of these, 141 went on to book a flat.

In 2019, we raised the qualifying age of the children for ASSIST from below 16 years old to 18 years old and below, to allow more families to benefit from the scheme. MND and HDB will continue to monitor the take-up of the scheme and review its parameters regularly to ensure relevance.