Silver Support Scheme
According to the Straits Times news report “Budget 2015 to address needs of all Singaporeans: DPM Tharman” (Feb 1) – “needy elderly Singaporeans from the age of 65 will receive annual payouts to help them with their living expenses. The scheme targets those who have little savings in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts, do not own Housing Board flats and lack family support.”
Election goodies
With an impending election – goodies are being dished out. But, Singaporeans should not forget how much has been taken from us all these years?
HDB, CPF & healthcare
- The most expensive public housing in the world; a pension and healthcare system whereby from a cashflow perspective – the Government does not spend a single cent; and depriving citizens of about three per cent of their CPF returns per annum for decades.
As good as “destitute”?
How different can the Silver Support Scheme be from the existing Public Assistance Scheme when “the scheme targets those who have little savings in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts, do not own Housing Board flats and lack family support”.
If you exclude all those who own a HDB flat, have immediate family members working and “more” savings in their CPF – you may be as good as the “destitute” definition in the Public Assistance scheme.
According to a Parliamentary reply on 17 February 2014 – “The Public Assistance (PA) Scheme provides assistance to those who are permanently unable to work due to old age, illness or disability, and have little or no means of income and family support.
In 2013, the Ministry received 629 applications for PA. Of these, 510 were placed on PA, while another 23 were assisted under other ComCare assistance or linked up with local assistance schemes.”
Win battles lose war
TRS Contributor