Parliament: Interesting replies MSM didn’t report (1)

[makapaaa]

[h=2]Parliament: Interesting replies MSM didn’t report (1)[/h]

May 4th, 2014 |

Author: Contributions



I refer to the recent Parliamentary proceedings reported in Hansard.

Replies not reported in media?

I found some interesting replies to questions that I do not remember reading
in the media.

17 February, 2014

MEDIUM-TERM TO SHORT-TERM COMCARE SCHEME APPLICANTS AND
RECIPIENTS

29) Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Social
and Family Development with regard to the medium-term to
short-term ComCare schemes for each year from 2009-2013 (a) how many recipients
are there on these schemes at year end; (b) how many applicants are assessed for
these schemes; (c) how many have been successful; and (d) how many applicants in
each of the above categories from (a) to (c) are aged 55 years and above.

What is interesting from the Minister’s reply below is that -

Successful application rate only 65%?

• The successful application rate for ComCare medium and short-term assistance
  (excluding the long-term Public Assistance) in 2013 was only about 65%

Active beneficiaries only 57%?

• The most startling (I believe never revealed before) statistics that the
  ratio of the number of active beneficiaries as at end December 2013, at 12,535,
  to the number of successful applicants (families) for the whole year, at 21,955,
  was only about 57%.

Does this mean that most of those assisted were for short periods as the
total number of families receiving assistance at end December was only about 6
in 10 families?

This may be a far cry from media reports of previous disclosures – which may
have given the impression that about twice the number of needy families were
being helped in a (whole) year.

More elderly applicants?

• The ratio of over age 54 successful applicants to all successful applicants
  has increased from about 21 to 31%, from 2009 to 2013.

Does this mean that more Singaporean, who has worked the greater part of
their working lives, may still be struggling in their elderly years?

In this regard, the ratio of active over age 54 beneficiaries to active
beneficiaries at end December 2013 was even worse – increasing from 23 to 34%
from 2009 to 2013.

How much assistance?

What is perhaps even more interesting statistics on ComCare, may be the
breakdown of the amount of assistance that families actually received monthly,
and for what duration.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: The relevant data
for ComCare short- to medium- Term assistance are shown in the following
tables.

Leong Sze
Hian

Leong Sze Hian is the Past President
of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard
University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, host of a money radio show and author
of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been invited to
speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He is executive
producer of the movie Ilo Ilo (26 international awards). He has served as
Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of Administrative
Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of
Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional
qualifications. He blogs at www.leongszehian.com.

 

[Leongsam]

What is interesting from the Minister’s reply below is that -

Successful application rate only 65%?

• The successful application rate for ComCare medium and short-term assistance
  (excluding the long-term Public Assistance) in 2013 was only about 65%

Active beneficiaries only 57%?

• The most startling (I believe never revealed before) statistics that the
  ratio of the number of active beneficiaries as at end December 2013, at 12,535,
  to the number of successful applicants (families) for the whole year, at 21,955,
  was only about 57%.

This shows that unlike many welfare states, the PAP does not just hand out money willy nilly to anyone who asks. If you need assistance, you have to show that you're actually entitled to it.

The PAP, as a responsible party, is very careful when it comes to dishing out taxpayer money and this is the way it should be. In NZ, my taxes are used to support lazy, good for nothing bums who spend their welfare cheque on booze and drugs and gambling instead of feeding their children.

If Leong was an impartial commentator, he'd do a bit more research into why 35% did not get the assistance package they were asking for. In all probability, they were far more well off than they claimed to be. I have personally seen sinkies living in 2 room apartments driving Mercs. It is blatantly obvious they aren't declaring their incomes yet have the gall to ask for more free money courtesy of the hardworking and honest members of society.