Committee of Supply 2023 debate, Day 6: Jamus Lim on making social assistance processes less intrusive or demeaning

Some needy families are reluctant to seek ComCare social assistance because they find the approval process intrusive, onerous or demeaning, said MP Jamus Lim in Parliament on Friday (Mar 3). He said the Government does have to be responsible in disbursing public monies, but it is also important to allow the needy to retain their dignity. He offered two ideas to potentially soften the perceived intrusiveness and reduce documentary scrutiny. First, as some assistance involves expenses such as rental, utilities and service and conservancy charges, the bills could be obtained directly from the public agencies instead of having to be provided by the resident. Second, the Government could deploy conditional cash transfers targeted at supplementary educational expenditures such as tuition or spending on equipment for co-curricular activities. This will fill a gap in educational support for low-income households, while keeping children as well as their parents accountable.