Services

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

WORK SUPPORT

ComCare short-term assistance through the Work Support Programme is available to low-income families to support them as they take steps to become self-reliant through work. A Community Development Council (CDC) Officer will work with the family to develop an action plan to help the family move towards employment and self-reliance.

Assistance Provided
Depending on your household's situation, one or more of the following types of assistance may be provided:

Rental, utilities and/or service and conservancy charges vouchers
Monthly cash grant to meet basic living needs
Medical assistance
Employment assistance and training-related services
Referral to other agencies such as hospitals, HDB, schools and Family Service Centres (FSCs) for casework and counseling and/or placement on the School Pocket Money Fund for school-going children.

The period of assistance will depend on the circumstances of your household; assistance may be provided for a period of up to 6 months at a time, and may be reviewed. The maximum duration of this short-term assistance is 24 months. You will be informed of your period of assistance when your application is approved.

Responsibilities
A CDC officer will work with your family to develop an action plan to help the family move towards employment and self-reliance.The action plan may include the following activities:

Looking for work and continue working
Undergo training and upgrade your skills
Manage the family's finances and reducing unnecessary expenses
Arrange for alternative childcare so that you/your spouse can work

You will need to sign a Letter of Undertaking to show that you are committed to co-operating with the CDC officer in following the action plan. Your CDC officer will keep in touch with you to help make sure that you are on track with the action plan. You must attend all the appointments that your CDC officer makes with you.

Who can apply

You must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. If you are a Permanent Resident, at least one immediate family member must be a Singapore Citizen;
Your monthly gross household income is less than or equal to $1,700 (i.e. = $1,700);
If your Gross Household Income is more than $1,700 per month and you have a large family, you may apply for ComCare assistance if your Per Capita Household Income is $550 and below (=$550).
Per Capita Household Income = Gross Household Income
Number of members in the household
You are unemployed or are in low-wage employment, and your household has financial difficulties and other needs;
You have little or no savings;
You have little support from family and the community
You must be willing to take steps to become self-reliant by looking for work, undergo training, better manage the family's finances or arrange for alternative childcare.

COMCARE MEDIUM-TERM ASSISTANCE

ComCare provides medium-term financial assistance (under the ComCare Transitions Scheme) if you are unable to work to support yourself and your family, due to temporary illness, disability or other extenuating circumstances.

Who Can Apply

You must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. If you are a Permanent Resident, at least one immediate family member must be a Singapore Citizen;
You or other members of your household are temporarily unable to work and have financial difficulties or other needs;
Your monthly gross household income is less than or equal to $1,700 (i.e. = $1,700);
If your Gross Household Income is more than $1,700 per month and you have a large family, you may apply for ComCare assistance if your Per Capita Household Income is $550 and below (=$550).
Per Capita Household Income = Gross Household Income
Number of members in the household
You have little or no savings;
You have little support from family and the community.

Assistance Provided
Depending on your household's situation, one or more of the following types of assistance may be provided:

Rental, utilities and/or service and conservancy charges vouchers
Monthly cash grant to meet basic living needs
Medical assistance
Referral to other agencies such as hospitals, HDB, schools and Family Service Centres (FSCs) for casework and counseling and/or placement on the School Pocket Money Fund for school-going children.

The period of assistance will depend on the circumstances of your household; assistance may be provided for up to a period of 12 months in the first instance. You will be informed of your period of assistance when your application is approved.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PA) SCHEME

The Public Assistance (PA) scheme is a long-term assistance scheme targeted at the most needy in Singapore. If you are not work-capable due to old age, illness or disability, have limited financial means to sustain basic living, and have no or very little family support, you may seek help under the PA scheme.

Who Can Apply

Needy Singapore Citizens who are not able to work due to old age, illness, disability or unfavourable family circumstances, and have limited or no income and family support.
Needy older persons who have no other means of support apart from a small monthly payout from CPF Minimum Sum or CPF LIFE, pension, ElderShield and the Lease Buyback scheme, and who fulfill all other PA criteria.
Needy older persons, whose children are unable to support them adequately because they are themselves needy, may apply for PA if each child's gross household income is $1,500 or lower.

If you face these circumstances, please approach the Community Development Council (CDC) in your district for more information and to assess if you are eligible for PA. If you have some means of support (e.g. savings, rental income or other payouts) or have family members who can work and/or contribute to your care and needs, the CDC will take these into consideration when they assess your application.

Assistance Provided

You may be helped with:

Household Size Rates

1 - Person $400

2 - Persons $700

3 - Persons $880

4 - Persons $1,050

Cash Grants - Monthly cash grants to help with your basic living expenses, depending on your household size.
Medical Assistance - Free treatment at polyclinics and government/ restructured hospitals
Additional Assistance - PA families with children may receive additional assistance of up to $150 per child per month.
Educational Assistance – Assistance with school fees, textbooks and other schooling needs.

Assistance may be provided up to a period of 12 months in the first instance, and will be reviewed regularly.

SPECIAL GRANT

Administered parallel to Public Assistance (PA) Scheme, this scheme is meant to assist Permanent Residents of Singapore. Recepients enjoy the same benefits as those placed on PA.

Who Can Apply

Permanent Residents of Singapore who are:
Aged (60 & above) who has no means of support.
Aged destitute
Disabled, mentally ill or chronically sick and unfit to work

Assistance Provided
Administered parallel to Public Assistance (PA) Scheme, this scheme is meant to assist Permanent Residents of Singapore. Recepients enjoy the same benefits as those placed on PA.