Reviewing Income Computation Method and Considering Caregiving Expenses for Childcare Subsidy Eligibility
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the review of income computation methods and the inclusion of caregiving expenses for childcare subsidy eligibility as raised by Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik. Minister of State for Social and Family Development Mr Goh Pei Ming explained that the assessment for the additional subsidy focuses on the gross monthly income of only both parents. He noted that families with five or more members can be means-tested on a per capita basis using all family members' income, receiving the more favorable result between the two methods. Regarding feedback from social service agencies on caregiving households, the Minister of State for Social and Family Development stated that they stay in close contact with preschools and community partners. He concluded that the Government will not shy away from making necessary changes to subsidy frameworks when feedback indicates a need to further streamline processes or better serve residents.
Transcript
16 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will consider (i) reviewing the computational method for the gross monthly household income and per capita income to exclude the income of other family members for young parents residing in their parents’ or relatives’ properties and (ii) factoring caregiving expenses for elderly dependents into the eligibility assessments of the applicants of Additional Subsidy for childcare.
The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Goh Pei Ming) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Early Childhood and Development Agency (ECDA) uses the gross monthly household income to assess the amount of means tested additional subsidy that a family qualifies for. This approach looks only at the income of both parents of a child in the family and does not include the income of other family members in the household.
However, we do allow for larger families with five or more household members to be means tested on a per capita basis, which may qualify them for higher subsidies. Their per capita income would be computed using the income of all the family members in the household, divided by the total number of family members in the household. And such families would receive the more favourable means tested result of the two processes.
Mr Speaker: Mr Muhaimin.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have two supplementary questions for Minister of State Goh: first, whether the Ministry has engaged social service agencies or family service centres to gather feedback on how current eligibility criteria affect caregiving households. And number question two, whether the Ministry can share a timeline for any planned review of subsidy eligibility frameworks affecting young families.
Mr Goh Pei Ming: I thank the Member for the two supplementary questions. Generally, it pertains to feedback and making sure that we stay close to the ground. I would like to reassure the Member that ECDA and MSF are in close contact with the preschools, as well as in close contact with the various family service centres and social service agencies on the ground. We do hear from them in terms of the feedback, whether the means testing processes are streamlined, effective and really serve our residents. We will not shy away from making necessary changes when we do get some feedback.