Rationale for Maintaining Distinctions in Support Schemes between Single-parent Unwed Household and Married Couples
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the policy rationale for maintaining distinctions in support schemes between single unwed parents and married couples, as raised by Mr Low Wu Yang Andre. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that while tax reliefs and housing priorities support parenthood within marriage, all citizen children receive equal developmental benefits, including education, healthcare, and Child Development Account subsidies. He highlighted that the Government provides targeted social assistance and holistic case management for unwed parents, with HDB exercising flexibility to offer rental or purchase options for those aged 21 and above. This two-pronged approach ensures that children are not penalized and have stable homes regardless of their parents' marital status or background.
Transcript
67 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in light of the goal to build a "Singapore Made for All Families" (a) what is the policy rationale for maintaining distinctions in access to housing and housing grants, tax reliefs and other support schemes between single-parent unwed households and married couples; and (b) how does the Ministry ensure that these distinctions do not inadvertently penalise children and compromise their developmental outcomes.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Working Mother's Child Relief and Parenthood Tax Rebate benefits are intended to support parenthood within marriage. As such, they are not extended to single unwed parents. Similarly, the majority of the Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) new flats are set aside for families, with priority for first-timer married couples and families with young children.
Nevertheless, we recognise the challenges that single unwed parents face in having to single handedly raise their children. Regardless of background and circumstances, we take a two-pronged approach to supporting single unwed parents.
Firstly, benefits that support the growth and development of children are given to all Citizen children, regardless of the marital status of their parents. These include subsidies for education, healthcare, childcare, infant care, the Migrant Domestic Worker Levy Concession and the Child Development Account.
Secondly, we provide targeted support to address their needs holistically. Single unwed parents who require additional support may approach social service offices for financial assistance, and family service centres for holistic case management and socio-emotional support.
Similarly, single unwed parents who require housing assistance can also approach HDB, which will assess each request holistically and exercise flexibility, where appropriate, to ensure that their children have a stable home to grow up in. For example, single unwed parents aged 21 and above may be allowed to buy up to a 3-room flat from HDB, or a resale flat. Those who cannot afford to buy a flat may be considered for public rental flats.