SINGAPORE: The monthly cash grant doled out to needy Singaporeans under the ComCare Long Term Assistance scheme will be increased with effect from July 1, announced the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Tuesday (April 12).
The cash assistance rates will be raised from S$450 to S$500 for one-person households; S$790 to S$870 for two-persons; S$990 to S$1,130 for three-persons and S$1,180 to S$1,450 for four-persons.
First announced in Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s Budget statement last month, the increased grants will benefit some 3,800 households, which are primarily inhabited by the elderly.
The ComCare scheme helps Singaporeans who are unable to work, with no means of income and limited or no family support. Aside from monthly cash assistance, support includes free medical treatment in polyclinics and hospitals; access to government-funded social services; extra help for recurring healthcare or hygiene needs; or one-off purchases of essential items.
“MAINSTREAM” SUPPORT FOR DISABLED
In his speech during the Committee of Supply debates on Tuesday, MSF’s Parliamentary Secretary Faishal Ibrahim said the ministry’s third Enabling Masterplan will aim to “mainstream” support for persons with disabilities in Singapore from 2017 onwards.
The new Masterplan will continue to serve as a guide to the development of policies, programmes and services for the disabled, following two previous five-year blueprints.
Assoc Prof Faishal said the 22-member steering committee formed at the start of April to help realise the Masterplan will focus on enabling persons with disabilities to reach their potential through early intervention; education; employment; lifelong learning and health.
It will also study areas like improving service delivery by harnessing data; supporting families and caregivers of the disabled as well as smoothening transitions across different services at different stages, he added.
Finally the committee will work towards developing a Masterplan which fosters an accessible and inclusive community through public education, technology, disabled-friendly spaces along with sports and community integration, said Assoc Prof Faishal.
“Just like what we have done with the public transport system, we should see how key national infrastructure and initiatives, including SkillsFuture and SmartNation, can be just as relevant to persons with disabilities,” he noted.
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS
Assoc Prof Faishal also announced in Parliament that adult care Day Activity Centres will have 600 more places by 2018, up from the existing capacity of 1,200.
“Half of these new places will cater to the rising number of adults with autism,” he said. “From April 2016, we will vary our funding support in these centres based on level of needs. This means that those with more severe needs will be given more Government support. We will also equip service providers with skills to better manage clients with challenging behaviours.”
Later this year, MSF will also pilot a suite of programmes for youths-at-risk, in collaboration with two appointed social service agencies.
“We plan to provide booster grants to help appointed agencies develop their organisational capability, and train youth workers to become more competent in managing youths with varying levels of risk,” added Assoc Prof Faishal.
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