Review Minimum Age for Lease Buyback Scheme for Flat owners With Serious Medical Conditions

18 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB will consider reducing the minimum age for the Lease Buyback Scheme where the flat owner has a serious medical condition causing significant reduction of life expectancy.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Lawrence Wong): Mr Deputy Speaker, to be eligible for the Lease Buyback Scheme, all flat owners should be aged 65 or older. Age 65 corresponds to the CPF Payout Eligibility Age, which is the minimum age when they can start to receive their monthly payouts from the CPF.

Nevertheless, should there be exceptional circumstances such as medical or financial reasons, HDB will exercise flexibility for households who do not meet the age requirement fully to take up the Lease Buyback Scheme on a case-by-case basis.