Committee of Supply 2024 debate, Day 6: Eric Chua on support for lower-income families and people with disabilities
Singapore is boosting support for lower-income families by expanding ComLink+. This is a scheme that aims to go beyond short-term social assistance and empower families to achieve long-term financial goals. Over the next three years, ComLink+ will cover another 3,000 lower-income families who are not in public rental housing and are eligible for KidSTART or the UPLIFT Community Network. They will be advised and supported by family coaches and benefit from ComLink+ Progress Packages. The first of these packages will be launched in the second half of this year. Children whose parents enrol them in preschool and ensure that they go regularly will receive up to S$7,400 in their Child Development Account. The measures were announced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua on Wednesday (Mar 6). He also spoke on new efforts to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) to get a job and stay employed. The SG Enable Place-and-Train programme will be extended for two more years and benefit another 200 PWDs. Since it was piloted in 2021, it has helped more than 330 PWDs to be hired. Capacity for Sheltered Workshops will also be increased - from the current 1,700 to 2,200 by 2030. These workshops offer a safe and structured training environment for PWDs who are not yet ready for open employment. For those unable to work, Day Activity Centres help to equip them with essential daily and community living skills. More spaces will be added, taking the total to 2,300 by 2030, up from 1,800 now. Mr Chua said the Government is also strengthening support on caregiving costs. For those who need point-to-point transport to commute to special education schools and community-based programmes, the Enabling Transport Subsidy will be raised from April 2024.
Singapore is boosting support for lower-income families by expanding ComLink+. This is a scheme that aims to go beyond short-term social assistance and empower families to achieve long-term financial goals. Over the next three years, ComLink+ will cover another 3,000 lower-income families who are not in public rental housing and are eligible for KidSTART or the UPLIFT Community Network. They will be advised and supported by family coaches and benefit from ComLink+ Progress Packages. The first of these packages will be launched in the second half of this year. Children whose parents enrol them in preschool and ensure that they go regularly will receive up to S$7,400 in their Child Development Account. The measures were announced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua on Wednesday (Mar 6). He also spoke on new efforts to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) to get a job and stay employed. The SG Enable Place-and-Train programme will be extended for two more years and benefit another 200 PWDs. Since it was piloted in 2021, it has helped more than 330 PWDs to be hired. Capacity for Sheltered Workshops will also be increased - from the current 1,700 to 2,200 by 2030. These workshops offer a safe and structured training environment for PWDs who are not yet ready for open employment. For those unable to work, Day Activity Centres help to equip them with essential daily and community living skills. More spaces will be added, taking the total to 2,300 by 2030, up from 1,800 now. Mr Chua said the Government is also strengthening support on caregiving costs. For those who need point-to-point transport to commute to special education schools and community-based programmes, the Enabling Transport Subsidy will be raised from April 2024.
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