Masagos Zulkifli on qualifying for ComCare assistance
Meeting the per capita household income (PCHI) benchmark does not automatically qualify an applicant for ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA). Instead, qualification is based on a “holistic assessment” by Social Service Offices, taking into account factors such as household income, savings and availability of family support. The number of SMTA applicants rose from around 61,000 in 2019 to around 80,000 in 2020 and 82,000 in 2021 at the height of COVID-19, before falling to about 75,000 in 2022. The figure from January to June this year was slightly lower than the same period last year. The most common reasons for unsuccessful applications in the past three years included applicants having enough income or financial support for their basic living expenses, or withdrawing their applications to apply for other assistance schemes such as the COVID-19 Recovery Grant. Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 2). He was replying to MPs’ questions after the PCHI benchmark was recently raised from S$650 and below to S$800 and below.
Meeting the per capita household income (PCHI) benchmark does not automatically qualify an applicant for ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA). Instead, qualification is based on a “holistic assessment” by Social Service Offices, taking into account factors such as household income, savings and availability of family support. The number of SMTA applicants rose from around 61,000 in 2019 to around 80,000 in 2020 and 82,000 in 2021 at the height of COVID-19, before falling to about 75,000 in 2022. The figure from January to June this year was slightly lower than the same period last year. The most common reasons for unsuccessful applications in the past three years included applicants having enough income or financial support for their basic living expenses, or withdrawing their applications to apply for other assistance schemes such as the COVID-19 Recovery Grant. Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 2). He was replying to MPs’ questions after the PCHI benchmark was recently raised from S$650 and below to S$800 and below.
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