Review of public assistance allowance underway
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 January 2008 2219 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The government is reviewing the S$290 monthly public assistance (PA) allowance for needy Singaporeans to see if it should be increased. It is also conducting a separate review on the qualifying income limit for assistance, which currently stands at S$1,500 a month.

The review is expected to be completed later this year.

Help is available for the low-income from many sources, from ComCare to grassroots and voluntary welfare organisations. And the public assistance allowance is just one component of the overall safety net to help the needy.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said, "We do not peg the PA allowance to the CPI (Consumer Price Index) per se. Instead, we monitor the cost of items which the typical PA recipient (needs). A review is currently ongoing and is likely to be completed this year."

He said the ministry has always been flexible in disbursement of financial aids to ensure no one slips through the cracks. Therefore, besides acting on a case-by-case basis for needy families, a review committee for financial assistance has also been set up to look into appeals.

And the qualifying income limit for PA assistance may be adjusted after the review.

"As of the end of 2006, (data) showed that the (average) household income of the bottom 20 per cent was still about S$1,500 per month. But a review of the income criteria is currently ongoing, and will be supplemented by the latest figures… And once (the figures are) available, I can then make a decision whether to shift that threshold," the minister said.

MPs had asked for more assistance for the low-income to help mitigate the rising costs of living.

Dr Balakrishnan said his ministry is looking into this, and details will be announced later.

He said besides the various government schemes available, the poor and needy can also get help from their local community as well as through the generosity of Singaporeans. - CNA/ac