There are a lot of urgent Financial Assistance Singapore that the citizens have been using over the years. After the COVID-19 pandemic, living conditions have become increasingly challenging due to persistently high inflation rates, eroding income growth, increasing costs of essentialness, and placing low-income households in a more vulnerable position. Research conducted by DBS Bank states that low-income earners in Singapore are experiencing the lowest wage growth and grappling with rising household expenses.
In addition to high inflation, some individuals are at risk of health issues, homelessness, job loss, and financial crises. It is not surprising to see families, especially low-income ones, seeking financial assistance to meet and satisfy their basic needs and essentialities.
This article will comprehensively discuss the top 5 urgent financial assistance in Singapore. When going through it, you should pay attention to the requirements, eligibility, and the nature of the assistance. This will help you choose the best one that suits your peculiar condition and needs. It is not always wise to jump into any offer you have in the market.
Sometimes it is advisable to review the detailed terms and conditions before picking on anyone. With that in mind, we would love to explore what this financial assistance means in relation to the people of Singapore and how to get one for yourself or your household.
What Is Financial Assistance Singapore?
Financial Assistance programs refer to a range of government-administered programs and schemes designed to specifically provide financial aid or support to individuals, families, households, or groups of people facing economic hardship or financial difficulties.
These programs aim to ensure that basic needs are met and that low-income earners have access to basic and essential services in the country so as to reduce the rate of poverty in society. A major example of this is ComCare. ComCare is a key financial assistance scheme that provides short to medium-term financial aid to low-income individuals and families who are unable to meet their basic needs.
Another good example of this financial assistance Singapore is the COVID-19 Recovery Grant, which was designed by the government to provide financial support of up to S$700 per month for 3 months to help low to middle-income earners who are laid off from their work due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
With that knowledge and understanding being established, it is important to list out some of Singapore’s urgent financial assistance programs that you can try out and get government support if you are in a financial crisis.
Top 5 Urgent Financial Assistance Singapore
The top financial assistance in Singapore for low-income families to benefit from include One Singapore, ComCare, SBMS, and MediFund which have been handpicked by our review team. Their eligibility, requirements, application modes, and nature of assistance differ. So, it is important you carefully analyze them before choosing which to go for.
1. One Singapore
One Singapore is one of the top urgent financial assistance Singapore that aims to put an end to poverty through good policies and individual contributions. It was established in 2005 by community members with the mission to create the “World We Want” and take concrete actions to “Make Poverty History.”
This financial assistance initiative is funded through donations. One of the notable fundraising campaigns is the S$10 Campaign. One Singapore offers two types of financial assistance in Singapore for low-income families. They are:
- ONE Emergency Funds
- ONE Livelihoods Fund
ONE Emergency Funds
The ONE Emergency fund provides in-kind and financial assistance to Singaporean low-income families who need help urgently. The cash assistance can cover expenses such as school fees, hospital bills, utility bills, transportation, and other basic needs. To apply, click on this link to complete the Google form.
ONE Livelihoods Fund
This particular program under One Singapore is designed to promote self-reliance, livelihoods, and entrepreneurship. This gives you cash assistance to cover course and training fees, equipment and appliances for home-based businesses, and e-bikes purchases and repairs for delivery workers.
2. ComCare
ComCare, founded in 2005, is a financial assistance scheme supported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (Government) and funded by the Community Care Endowment Fund designed to offer financial assistance in Singapore for low-income families.
It is one of the best urgent financial assistance Singapore that is easily accessible to eligible applicants. It was founded on four major principles, and they are as follows:
- The Government is part of the caring and sustainable community
- Build strong and stable families
- Inspire responsible individuals
- Aims to be client-centric and coordinated
However, ComCare offers three financial assistance programs for Singaporeans, and they include:
- ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance
- ComCare Long-Term Assistance
- ComCare Interim Assistance
ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance
This financial assistance program is designed to provide urgent and temporary financial assistance in Singapore for low-income families throughout unemployment. For instance, if you are unable to work because you are ill or need to take care of a sick family member, this program will assist you. The assistance can be in the form of medical bill support, household bill support, monthly cash assistance, training and employment aid, and referrals to relevant services.
To be eligible for this program, you must be a Singaporean or a permanent resident, and your household income must be less than S$1,900 per month or a per capita household income of less than S$650. You must be unable to work or are unemployed due to sickness or caregiving responsibilities to a family member. Lastly, you must have no to little family assets, savings, or support to rely on.
ComCare Long-Term Assistance
This is called the “Public Assistance Scheme.” It is designed to provide financial assistance to individuals in extreme or very bad financial difficulties. It is specifically created for individuals who are permanently unable to support themselves or work due to illnesses, old age, or disability.
The assistance comes in the form of monthly cash assistance, in which the amount payable is dependent on the size of your family, financial support for essentials such as education and medical bills, and discretionary assistance like one-off household purchase medical equipment purchase.
To be eligible, you must first be a Singaporean or a permanent resident. You must be unable to work due to disability, age, or illness. As an elderly person, your children’s combined household income must be less than S$1,900 per month or a per capita household income of less than S$650
ComCare Interim Assistance
This is one of the best urgent financial assistance Singapore for families with tough financial difficulties that demand immediate and urgent attention. The assistance provided here is for less than three months. It is usually in cash, vouchers, or food rations.
To be eligible for this, your household income must be less than S$1,900 or a per capita household income of less than S$650. Additionally, you must be a Singaporean or Permanent Resident.
How to Apply:
To apply for any ComCare financial assistance schemes, visit any Family Service Centres or Social Service Office (SSO) closest to you. To apply, you will be required to submit some documents. The document varies depending on the particular ComCare scheme. Some of the basic documents you will be required to bring include:
- Identity card or birth certificate
- Bank account passbook(s) or statement(s) with the latest 3 months’ transaction
- Supporting documents such as medical certificates, utility bills, contracts, payslips, or HDB statements.
3. Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services (SBWS)
This urgent financial assistance Singapore scheme was established by the late Venerable Yen Pei, a Buddhist scholar. The Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services is a welfare organization that aims to relieve suffering, poverty, ignorance, and ill-health through advisory financial assistance, counseling, education, and more.
SBWS offers assistance through the public assistance program. It provides monthly financial assistance or monthly food rations to families based on their needs. The beneficiaries are visited and assessed every six months.
For the Elderly and PWD
It offers financial assistance through the Agency for Integrated Care Singapore (AIC), an independent corporate entity under the Ministry of Health (MOH). Pioneers with disabilities are given S$100/month, and seniors with mobility difficulties are given offers enabling funds for walking aids, hospital beds, hearing aids, and so on. For elders who are too old and have pre-existing disabilities, they can receive. S$150 or S$250 monthly cash payout for up to 72 months. Additionally, it provides $250 cash monthly assistance for extremely disabled low-income Singapore Citizens aged 30 and older. Click on this link to check for eligibility.
For HDB Flat Owners
SBWS offers aid through the HDB Financial Assistance Measures (FAM). This scheme was created to help flat owners who are unable to meet up with their monthly HDB housing plan installments due to financial difficulties. To apply for this, go to the HDB website.
For Students
It offers financial assistance through the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS), which helps parents offset their children’s kindergarten fees. There is also the School Pocket Money Fund that offers monthly allowance for students in the primary, secondary, and post-secondary. Primary school beneficiaries get S$65 per month, and secondary beneficiaries get S$100 per month.
Additionally, SBWS partners with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to offer financial aid to settle fees and other expenses. To check if your child is eligible for this financial assistance, kindly click on this link.
Check if your child is eligible or the Visit MOE website to check whether your child is eligible for financial assistance from January 2023
4. Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC)
The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) is a non-profit self-help urgent financial assistance Singapore specifically for low-income families in the Chinese community. This assistance is provided through a combination of mutual support and self-help.
The CDAC was founded in 1992 and was started by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). It operates two major schemes, namely:
- CDAC Family Assistance Programme
- CDAC-SFCCA Hardship Assistance Fund Scheme
CDAC Family Assistance Programme
This is a specific financial assistance in Singapore for low-income families who need help meeting the education needs of their children or basic living expenses. The financial assistance is given for essential household expenses and can also come in the form of grocery vouchers and enrichment programs for children.
You or at least one of the family members must be a Chinese Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident with a total monthly household income of below S$2,400 or per capita income below S$800. To apply, meet a caseworker with your supporting documents.
CDAC-SFCCA Hardship Assistance Fund Scheme
This urgent financial assistance Singapore scheme offers financial aid to individuals with unique situations. The type and nature of assistance to be given to you will be assessed about your unique situation. To apply, you must be a Chinese Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident with gross monthly income below S$2,400
5. Medifund (Medical Endowment Fund)
Medifund is an urgent financial assistance Singapore designed to support Singaporeans who are unable to offset their medical bills after getting help from subsidies such as MediShield Life and MediSave.
The Medifund consists of two schemes that cater to the different age categories. There is the Medifund Silver, which offers financial assistance for Seniors (aged 65 and above), and Medifund Junior, which caters to younger adults.
The MediFund Committee will assess your situation and the amount of medical bills you have accrued to determine the level and amount of financial, social, and health support you need. To be eligible, you must be a Singaporean or permanent resident having difficulties paying your medical bills even after getting subsidiary aid from Medisave and MediSheid Life. Additionally, you must be a subsidized patient receiving treatment from a Medifund-approved institution and be referred by an eligible polyclinic or hospital.
Application is easy. You can meet with the social workers for Medifund assistance while you are receiving treatment at a Medifund-approved hospital or organization.
Conclusion
It is heartening to see the top 5 urgent financial assistance in Singapore coming to the aid of low-income Singaporean families. These five programs are crucial gateways to assistance and form a safety net that protects Singaporeans from unexpected hardships of life. It is important you go for the scheme that you perfectly fit into and will adequately meet your financial needs.
