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Fees, assistance, awards and scholarships

Find out your child's monthly fees, eligibility for financial assistance schemes, awards and merit-based scholarships.

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Financial matters: Fees, assistance, awards and scholarships

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Find out your child's monthly fees, eligibility for financial assistance schemes, awards and merit-based scholarships.

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Watch the 2 videos to understand the context of our discussion.

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Watch the 2 videos to understand the context of our discussion.

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How Wide Is The Class Divide? | Regardless Of Class | CNA Insider

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Income inequality in Singapore falls to lowest level in almost two decades

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1) Research on the topic assigned.
2) Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

** Remember to acknowledge the source of the information.

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MoneySmart.Sg - Tips, tricks and uncommon wisdom to help you get more out of your money

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If you're buying an HDB flat in Singapore for the first time, you're just beginning to realise how much it costs to live in what is essentially a tiny space in the sky. Fortunately there are HDB grants to help those of us who aren't exactly rolling in cash.

HDB grants are technically CPF housing grants, since they are disbursed in the form of CPF top ups and have to be returned to your CPF when you sell the flat. Still, that's not gonna stop most Singaporeans from seeing them as "free money" or "gahmen give discount".

The thing is, these grants are a confusing bunch, with different conditions to fulfil before you can qualify. This article breaks down the requirements and how you can get as much as you can qualify for.

Contents

1. HDB grants (CPF housing grants) at a glance

2. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant - for HDB BTO & resale

3. Family Grant (HDB Resale Grant) - for resale HDB

4. Proximity Housing Grant - for resale HDB

5. Family Grant - for executive condo

6. How do HDB grants factor into your housing options

7. Things to note about HDB grants

TL;DR: HDB grants (CPF housing grants) at a glance

CPF (or HDB) Housing Grants are given to lower- and middle-income families to help make their home purchases more affordable.

The grants will be fully credited into an applicant's CPF Ordinary Account after flat booking, and be used to offset the purchase price of the flat, hence lowering the home loan amount required.

Assuming you're applying for an HDB flat as a couple , you're both Singapore citizens , and are first time buyers , this is an overview of HDB grants available for different housing types:

Totalling it up, this is the maximum grant you can get for the different flat types, assuming you qualify for all:

HDB BTO grant: EHG = up to $80,000 (also applies to sale of balance flats too)

HDB resale grant: EHG + Family Grant + PHG = up to $160,000

EC grant: Family Grant = $5,000 to $30,000

1. HDB BTO & resale grant: Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)

The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant is a catch-all HDB grant that is meant to help all local lower- to middle-class couples afford a home. It's applicable to all HDB BTO and HDB resale flats and there is no restriction on flat size or estate. Woohoo!

Who is it for: Singaporean couples/families earning $9,000 or less per month, calculated as average household income across the past 12 months. At least one applicant has to be working for at least a year.

HDB flat eligibility: Both new (BTO/ sale of balance ) and resale flats are eligible. For resale flats, the remaining lease must be at least 30 years.

Grant amount: From $5,000 to $80,000. The grant amount is inversely proportionate to your household income, so the less you earn, the more you get.

What about singles? Singles aged 35 applying for a resale HDB flat are eligible for EHG if you earn less than $4,500 per month. The grant amount is halved, so you can get between $2,500 to $40,000.

What about foreigners? Under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme, Singapore citizens who are married to foreigners qualify for the singles' grant. You can get up to $40,000 in grants depending on your household income. The only difference is that you would qualify from age 21 (instead of the usual 35, for singles).

2. HDB resale flat grant: Family Grant

Buying an HDB resale flat tends to be more expensive than a BTO, but first-time HDB applicants get a significant one-off Family Grant as a "discount". You can stack the Family Grant together with the EHG (above) to make HDB resale flats a lot more affordable.

Who is it for: First-timer couples or families buying a resale flat. The combined income ceiling for couples is $14,000. If you're applying together with more family members, such as with your parents, the household income ceiling is $21,000.

HDB flat eligibility: Any resale flat, 2-room and larger.

Grant amount: For couples/families who are all Singapore citizens, the Family Grant is either $50,000 (2- to 4-room flat) or $40,000 (5-room and up) . If applying as a citizen-PR couple, you get $10,000 less, but you can get it back later on if the PR converts into citizen or if you have a child.

What about singles? There's a singles version of this, known as the Singles Grant for singles aged 35 years and above earning less than $7,000 per month. As with the EHG, the income ceiling and grant amounts are halved. The Singles Grant is $25,000 (2- to 4-room) or $20,000 (5-room or bigger).

What about foreigners? Citizen-foreigner couples are eligible for the same Singles Grant just mentioned. Your gross monthly household income must not exceed $14,000.

3. HDB resale flat grant: Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)

There are lots of advantages to living with or near your parents. They can look after your young children. They can sign for deliveries that come during the day while you're out at work. They can tell your spouse how to be a better child-in-law.
Okay, that last one might not be an advantage...
If you have an okay relationship with the folks, consider the can be stacked with the EHG Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) when shopping for a resale flat. You can get this grant as long as you stay within 4km of them. PHG and Family Grant, which stretches your dollar when it comes to buying a resale flat.

Who is it for: HDB resale flat buyers living with OR within 4km of their parents. It also applies to older couples who want to move closer to their married children. There is no income ceiling and you do not have to be a first-time applicant.

HDB flat eligibility: Any resale HDB flat (2-room or bigger) as long as the lease has at least 20 years left. (Note: The parents' / married children's home need not be HDB flat; it can be private property too.) This is a one-time grant.

Grant amount: $20,000 if you live within 4km radius of your parents/married children. Or get $30,000 if you apply to live together as an extended family.

What about singles? Don't worry, the Proximity Housing Grant applies to filial singles aged 35 years and above too. As with all the other grants, you get half the grant amount ($10,000 within 4km, or $15,000 to live with your parents). Not a bad reward for ensuring you can always go visit your parents for dinner whenever you feel like it.

4. HDB executive condominium (EC) grant: Family Grant

First-time HDB buyers benefit from a Family Grant when they buy an EC, although it's less than what you would get for a resale flat.

Who is it for: First-time housing applicants applying for an executive condo as a couple or family unit, with a household income ceiling of $12,000. If one of you is a first-timer and the other is a second-timer applicant, you can also qualify for the "Half Housing Grant", which is basically half of the Family Grant.

HDB flat eligibility: ECs of any type, when bought directly from the developer. You can apply for the Family Grant at the point of booking your EC unit.

Grant amount: Assuming the buyers are both Singapore citizens, you can get $10,000 to $30,000, depending on your income. For citizen-PR households, the grant is $10,000 less, which you can get "refunded" later if you have a child or the PR converts into a citizen.

What about singles? Erm... Sorry, singles are not even allowed to buy brand new ECs, at least on your own. You have to apply jointly with another single. And of course, both of you must be at least 35. However, there's no grant available if you do so.

Examples of HDB grants in action...

Let's say you and your fiancee (straight couple, both citizens) are fresh grads, have been working for a year, and command a princely $6,000 a month in combined salaries.

This is the best time to apply for an HDB flat since your income is at its all-time low, so you qualify for all public housing types and for most grants. Here's how the HDB grants factor into your options:

Now let's consider another couple who are a few years into their careers and earning a combined $9,000 a month. Perhaps at this point, they may be considering only HDB flats in the more prestigious "top school" locations, which impacts the price of the properties:

As you can see, the stacked HDB grants close the gap between HDB BTOs and resale flats.

Important things to know about CPF housing grants

There are just 3 quick points we need to make:

1. You have to return all HDB grants to your CPF with interest

HDB grants aren't discounts. Instead, the grant money is credited into your CPF OA, and then deducted for your home downpayment.

So once you sell your flat, you'll need to pay back any grants back into your CPF, including accrued interest of 2.5% per year. (Same rule applies to whatever CPF savings you used to pay for the flat downpayment or mortgage.)

Theoretically, this isn't a big deal since you can use your CPF OA savings on your next home. But there's a clause saying that if you got more than $30,000 in grants, the remainder will be get diverted to your SA, RA, or Medisave.

2. You can't use the grants to skip out on your downpayment or monthly repayment

All the HDB grants are used to subsidise the initial purchase price - you cannot use it to avoid making any home loan repayments.

If you have taken out a bank loan, you will need to pay 5% of the purchase price in cash. You can't use the grants to pay that portion. You also can't use the grants to offset entire monthly repayments.

If you're trying to decide between taking an HDB loan or bank loan , you can easily speak to MoneySmart's Mortgage Specialists to figure out which makes more financial sense for you.

3. You may need to pay a resale levy when buying a new property

If you buy a new HDB flat or receive a CPF Housing Grant, you will need to pay a resale levy if you plan to buy another new HDB flat or a new EC unit. This is the government's way of ensuring you don't enjoy too many property subsidies in your lifetime.

The amount of the resale levy is based on the size of your first HDB flat. There is no resale levy if you buy a resale flat or private property.
Know someone who needs a crash course on HDB grants? Share this article with them.

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HDB Grants Guide 2022: How Much CPF Housing Grant Can You Get?

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If you're buying an HDB flat in Singapore for the first time, you're just beginning to realise how much it costs to live in what is essentially a tiny space in the sky. Fortunately there are HDB grants to help those of us who aren't exactly rolling in cash.

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https://www.gov.sg/-/media/gov/features/together-every-step/infographics/pdf/housing-schemes.pdf

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https://www.gov.sg/article/how-government-keeps-healthcare-costs-affordable-in-face-of-rising-global-healthcare-costs

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Keeping the costs of healthcare low is a challenge for countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization, government spending in healthcare has grown faster than the rest of the economy. This is in part due to rising economic growth and technological advances.

Singapore’s population is aging rapidly, with nearly half of the population projected to be at least 65 years old by 2050. And while preventive measures such as staying healthy and eating well can help to stave off chronic illnesses in the long term, the Government has also put in place measures to keep healthcare costs affordable for all Singaporeans.

For all Singaporeans

The Government ensures that all Singaporeans are well-protected against ill health and large medical costs by setting up four lines of defence before and in the event that you fall ill and require treatment.

1. Subsidies

The first line of defence is subsidies. Hospitalisation, outpatient care and long-term care are heavily subsidised.

You can get subsidies of up to 80% for your hospitalisation bill at public hospitals (B2/C wards). Regardless of the ward you choose, the quality of care is the same.

2. Insurance

The second line of defence is insurance, which protects Singaporeans against unexpected healthcare costs.

MediShield Life provides all Singaporeans with health insurance coverage for life, regardless of age, health condition and pre-existing conditions. It helps to pay for large hospitalisation bills and selected costly outpatient treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy.

CareShield Life, which will be rolled out from mid-2020, provides cash payouts for individuals with severe disability, for life.

3. MediSave

The third line of defence is MediSave, where the Government helps all Singaporeans save up for a rainy day.

Set aside monthly from a part of your salary, your MediSave savings can help pay for surgery, hospitalisation, health screenings, medical insurance, severe disability (from mid-2020) and more – for you and your immediate family members.

4. Safety Nets

The fourth line of defence is our safety nets.

MediFund is a safety net for Singaporean patients who have financial difficulties with their remaining bills, after Government subsidies and drawing on other means of payment including MediShield Life, MediSave and cash.

From 2020, ElderFund will help the severely disabled but who have financial difficulties.

What happens if you have a chronic condition, e.g. high blood pressure or diabetes, and need regular treatment?

Good news, the Community Health Assist Scheme, or CHAS, now covers all Singaporeans with selected chronic conditions, regardless of income!

Treatment and medication costs at polyclinics and public Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) are also heavily subsidised, through means-testing and based on age, by up to 75% at the polyclinics and up to 70% at the public SOCs. Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors also receive additional special subsidies.

For families that need further help

On top of the subsidies and defences that all Singaporeans get, lower-income families get additional help from the Government.

Lower- to-middle-income families get up to 50% subsidies on their MediShield Life premiums. Those who still cannot afford their premiums can apply for Additional Premium Support.

From 1 Nov 2019, Singaporeans with selected chronic conditions, regardless of their income, will benefit from be eligible for CHAS.

The new CHAS Green card provides up to $160 in annual subsidies for selected chronic conditions.

CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders also get higher subsidies at CHAS GPs. CHAS Orange cardholders will now get subsidies for common illnesses of up to $10 per visit, as well as up to $80 subsidy per visit (up from $75) for complex chronic illnesses, capped at $320 per year (up from $300). CHAS Blue cardholders get up to $125 subsidy per visit (up from $120) for complex chronic illnesses, capped at $500 per year (up from $480).

If you are severely disabled, aged 30 and above and need financial help, you can apply for ElderFund from 2020 to receive monthly cash payouts.

If you still have difficulty affording your medical bills, MediFund will provide discretionary financial assistance.

Click on for Sherwan's story on how subsidies, MediShield Life and MediSave helped his family with his father's hospital bills.

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How the Government keeps healthcare costs affordable in the face of rising global healthcare costs

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PM Lee: No one will be denied medical healthcare in Singapore because they cannot afford it

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https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies

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For Public

For Healthcare Professionals

e-Services

Who We Are

Update

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be revising the income criteria for all schemes and services that are means-tested using the monthly per-capita household income (PCHI) criteria. The revised income criteria for affected schemes and services will be implemented by October 2019. Please click here to find out more about the current and revised income criteria for each scheme.

facility type

date of birth

citizenship

18 Schemes that may apply to you

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View all healthcare financing schemes & subsidies available in Singapore such as MediShield Life, CareShield Life, MediSave, CHAS and ElderShield.

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https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies/medifund

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MediFund is an endowment fund set up by the Government. It provides a safety net for patients who face financial difficulties with their remaining bills after receiving Government subsidies and drawing on other means of payment including MediShield Life, MediSave and cash.

MediFund Silver and MediFund Junior are carved out from MediFund to provide more targeted assistance for the needy elderly and the young respectively.

As an endowment fund, interest income generated from the capital sum are allocated to approved healthcare institutions , for them to assist with the medical bill payments of needy patients.

Expand All | Collapse All

Who is Eligible?

What are the Benefits?

How can I apply?

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MediFund is an endowment fund set up by the Government. It provides a safety net for patients who face financial difficulties with their remaining bills after receiving Government subsidies and drawing on other means of payment including MediShield Life, MediSave and cash.

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https://www.workfare.gov.sg/Pages/WIS.aspx

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WIS encourages eligible workers to work and build up their CPF savings for their retirement, housing and healthcare needs, by supplementing their income and retirement savings through cash payments and CPF contributions.

See how WIS benefits you as ...

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WIS encourages eligible workers to work and build up their CPF savings for their retirement, housing and healthcare needs, by supplementing their income and retirement savings through cash payments and CPF contributions. See how WIS benefits you as ...

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https://www.gstvoucher.gov.sg/Pages/index.aspx

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https://www.gov.sg/article/concessions-for-everyone

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Over 1 in 2 Singaporeans enjoy concessionary fares, which is an estimated two million commuters that enjoy public transport at discounted rates.

These concessions ensure that getting around the island is affordable for different groups of Singaporeans to travel when they like, as they like with ease.

Singapore has been investing heavily in the public transport system to make it more convenient, reliable and accessible. Over the past few years, the Government has made the following improvements, including:
- Adding 99 new MRT trains;
- Introducing 1,000 new buses and 80 new bus routes;
- Building more than 200km of covered walkways.

Improving our public transport system sustainably
These investments and work will continue in order to enhance Singapore's public transport system. By 2030, you will be able to reach your nearest neighbourhood centre in less than 20 minutes by walking, cycling or riding. It will also take no more than 45 minutes to complete most peak-period journeys. Travel will be more inclusive and barrier-free to aid commuters of all ages.
All these improvements bring some costs with them. With rising energy prices, increasing operating and maintenance costs, the gap between fares and costs have been widening. Over the next five years, the Government is expected to put in close to $1 billion to renew rail operating assets, and another $1 billion to subsidise bus operations every year.

For a more sustainable public transport system, there is a need to balance rising operating costs and ensuring affordable fares for all.

Many groups, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students, will receive more support through discounted fares and monthly concession passes. Take a look at this list to see what concessions you are eligible for:

In spite of rising operation costs, the Government is committed to making public transport accessible and affordable for all.

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Concessions for everyone - making discounts count

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Over 1 in 2 Singaporeans enjoy concessionary fares, which is an estimated two million commuters that enjoy public transport at discounted rates. These concessions ensure that getting around the island is affordable for different groups of Singaporeans to travel when they like, as they like with ease.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/about-250000-more-households-eligible-for-public-transport-vouchers-as-fares-rise-on-dec-26

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Published

December 26, 2021 at 11:15 PM

SINGAPORE - Commuters who took the bus or train on Boxing Day may not have noticed their fares had gone up by a few cents as a public transport fare hike announced last month kicked in on Sunday (Dec 26).

But for Madam Hashimah Hassan, every cent goes a long way.

The 54-year-old is a full-time caregiver to her brother, who has cerebral palsy, and her 83-year-old mother, who is wheelchair-bound.

So while she does not take public transport often, having to pay more for fares will impact her finances as she receives only about $430 each month from social assistance programmes.

Depending on distance travelled, the cost of bus and MRT trips on Sunday rose by three to four cents for adults paying their fares by card.

Concessionary fares for seniors, students, people with disabilities and low-wage workers went up by one cent, while prices for cash fares, single-trip tickets, monthly concessions and travel passes were unchanged.

Of the 10 commuters The Straits Times spoke with, five only realised that fares had gone up when interviewed by this reporter, while three said the increase was negligible as it would amount to a few dollars each month.

This was especially so since working from home has become the default due to Covid-19 and they spent less money commuting to work.

Still, the fare hike was felt by some, like Ms Siti Nurhaliza, 21, who has to pay adult fares as a part-time student who does not qualify for a concession card.

Her home is about two bus stops from the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub and the short ride will now cost her almost a dollar.

"For me, it is not affordable," said Ms Siti, who gets $100 a month in allowance from her parents.

Sunday's fare hike was also painful for former dishwasher Lee Poh Lim, 69, who relies on the $500 in social assistance he receives each month.

After a bout of colon cancer wiped his savings and Central Provident Fund clean, finances have been tight as Mr Lee, who shares a rental flat in Pasir Ris with another tenant, has to pay for rent and utilities.

So he was relieved when he got a letter in his mailbox several days ago notifying him of a $30 public transport voucher that he can redeem from Tuesday (Dec 28).

While it will cover only a portion of the $50 that he spends on public transport each month, "any amount of money is useful to me", Mr Lee told ST.

A total of 600,000 public transport vouchers, which can be used to top up fare cards or buy monthly concession passes, have been set aside to help lower-income commuters cope with the latest fare hike.

This is the largest number of public transport vouchers issued to date.

The Public Transport Council decided to raise fares by 2.2 per cent after its annual fare revision exercise this year, citing cost pressures on public transport operators and a sharp plunge in ridership due to Covid-19.

The hike was largely the result of a fare increase that was carried over from 2020.

Public transport fares were frozen that year.

When fares were last raised in 2019, a total of 450,000 vouchers worth $50 each were made available.

To benefit more commuters this year, the income ceiling was raised so that more households would qualify for a public transport voucher.

Those with a monthly household income of $1,600 or less per person will be eligible for the voucher distribution exercise compared with the $1,200 income ceiling that was set in 2019.

This means about 250,000 more households will be eligible for the vouchers this time, the Ministry of Transport said.

This year, the public transport vouchers will be given out in three phases.

In the first phase, households that received public transport vouchers in 2019 will automatically receive a notification letter by the end of the year that will allow them to redeem the vouchers.

In the second phase, which will start from early next year, households that meet the income criteria but did not receive a voucher in the first stage can apply for it online.

Finally, households that meet the income criteria but prefer to apply in person, as well as households that need further assistance, can go to their local community centres or community clubs to make their applications.

All public transport vouchers must be redeemed by March 31, 2023.

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About 250,000 more households eligible for public transport vouchers as fares rise on Dec 26

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A total of 600,000 public transport vouchers have been set aside to help lower-income commuters cope with the latest fare hike. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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https://www.mof.gov.sg/singaporebudget/resources/support-for-households

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The enhanced permanent GSTV scheme will continue to provide help for lower- to middle-income Singaporean households to defray GST expenses, beyond the transitional support provided by the Assurance Package.

At Budget 2022, the permanent GSTV scheme was enhanced by (i) raising the Assessable Income (AI) threshold from $28,000 to $34,000, (ii) increasing the GSTV - Cash quantum by up to $200, and (iii) making the Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) Rebate a component of the permanent GSTV scheme.

At Budget 2023, the Government announced that the GSTV - Cash quantum will be further increased, by up to $350. This increase will be implemented over 2023 and 2024.

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The enhanced permanent GSTV scheme will continue to provide help for lower- to middle-income Singaporean households to defray GST expenses, beyond the transitional support provided by the Assurance Package.

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/budget-2022-debate-workfare-workers-wages-tan-see-leng-2529246

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Dr Tan said that there may be some workers who want to work more but are unable to earn S$500 per month due to personal circumstances. For people with disabilities and ComCare recipients, concessionary Workfare payouts will be provided.

"For workers who are earning less than S$500, the best way to help them is to help them find a job of the appropriate quality and quantity of working hours to earn at least $500. Then Workfare can come in to provide an additional boost," he said.

Following Dr Tan's statement, Mr Singh asked Dr Tan if he agreed that there are people who cannot work full-time, and for further clarification on what is a concessionary Workfare payout.

In response, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said: "If you qualify for ComCare, then automatically you will get Workfare as well even if you are a part-time worker, earning less than S$500."

Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam (WP - Aljunied) then asked if the Government had studied the best way to achieve the policy intent of getting people to work more, as the new criteria may discourage them from working instead.

To which Mr Zaqy repeated that those on Comcare will automatically qualify for Workfare.

"That differentiates our low-income workers from the casual workers who may not necessarily come from low-income households," he said.

FOREIGN WORKER POLICIES

Dr Tan also touched on upcoming adjustments to foreign work pass minimum qualifying salaries.

Businesses have expressed concerns about rising costs even as foreign worker policies are tightened, something that a number of MPs also raised in the House.

Dr Tan said that the changes announced are to ensure that Singapore "remains open to foreigners who can complement our workforce".

From September, the minimum qualifying salaries of Employment Pass applicants will go up to S$5,000 to S$5,500, with the higher mark for the financial sector.

The minimum qualifying salary of S-Pass applicants will rise to S$3,000 and is set to rise again in subsequent years.

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Workers on Comcare earning below S$500 can still get Workfare, says Manpower Minister

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SINGAPORE: A new minimum salary criterion for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme will not apply to workers who are receiving government aid, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Tuesday (Mar 1).

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A good education starts with providing every child access to educational opportunities. There are schemes across different stages of Singapore's education system to ensure this, regardless of the child's background.

Preschool

Since January 2020, the gross monthly household income ceiling for means-tested preschool subsidies was raised to $12,000. This means more families who need it can enjoy the subsidies.

Primary and secondary
Student Care Centres (SCCs) provide care and support for students after school hours. Students from lower-income families can receive monthly subsidies for student care fees and a one-off grant to offset enrolment costs under the ComCare Student Care Fee Assistance scheme.

There are plenty of activities and programmes in primary and secondary schools for students to have a well-rounded learning experience. To make sure primary and secondary school students can get the most out of their education, students receive yearly contributions to their Edusave accounts yearly, which they can tap on for school enrichment programs.

Tertiary
There are also significant subsidies for tertiary education for Singapore Citizens. For Singaporean students from low to middle-income households, additional financial support is available in the form of government bursaries.

55,000 full-time and about 2,100 part-time Singaporean undergraduates and diploma students will benefit from enhanced bursaries for diploma and degree courses.

The enhanced Government bursaries cover up to 75% of subsidised general degree tuition fees for full-time undergraduates, and up to 95% of the subsidised tuition fees for full-time polytechnic diploma students from AY2020.

With the enhanced bursaries, an eligible full-time undergraduate qualifying for the highest bursary tier will pay tuition fees of $2,000 a year for general degree courses, down from $4,200 based on AY2019 fees, and $150 a year for polytechnic diploma programmes, down from $550 based on AY2019 fees.

For those at the polytechnics and Autonomous Universities who need more help with their education expenses, they can apply for bursaries offered by the institutions and government loans.

Part-time undergraduates from low-income households will receive a $2,500 bursary annually instead of $1,350, while part-time diploma students from low income households will receive a $800 bursary annually instead of $600.

With this, an eligible part-time student qualifying for the highest bursary tier will pay tuition fees of around $2,000 a year for general degree courses, down from $3,150 based on AY2019 fees, and $100 a year for polytechnic diploma programmes down from $300 based on AY2019 fees.

The enhancements to bursaries for tertiary students will provide greater support for Singaporeans in accessing a range of pathways to progress and pursue their aspirations, regardless of their financial background.

With these schemes and grants in place at every stage, students can get the most out of the opportunities available to them at every level of education.

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Financial support for Singaporean students at every stage of education

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A good education starts with providing every child access to educational opportunities. There are schemes across different stages of Singapore's education system to ensure this, regardless of the child's background. Preschool Since January 2020, the gross monthly household income ceiling for means-tested preschool subsidies was raised to $12,000.

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Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

# data[].attributes.body
Read the article / website attached.

Questions to address:
(a) What is the help given?
(b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?

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(a)Support packages and other voucher schemes are provided by the government to pay for the GST expenses of lower-to middle-income Singaporean households

(b)It overcomes the income inequality by having the GST Voucher Scheme-Cash, Medisave and U-save. Providing for the lower-to-middle-income Singaporeans’ household expenses, medical expenses and top-ups for the elderly and utility subsidies respectively. Those eligible will be able to be “compensated” in terms of income and thus reduce the lower-to-middle-income Singaporean’s income inequality.

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(a) the government grants and provides subsidies for first home purchases, as well as providing credit and vouchers to help Singaporeans embark on new career opportunities and offset their day-to-day expenses.

(b) through this, Singaporeans will receive more financial help and support that they might need at a slightly younger age. this will encourage them and give them a chance to take on the next milestone of their lives with the help of various schemes provided and made available for them.

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a) there are concessionary fares for singaporeans for them to take public transport at discounted rates. many groups, eg senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students, will receive support through discounted fares and monthly concession passes. public transport vouchers, which can be used to top up fare cards or buy monthly concession passes, have been sent to lower-income commuters for them to redeem. the income ceiling was raised so that more households would qualify for the public transport voucher in order to benefit more commuters.

b) the concessionary fares ensure that travelling around singapore through public transport is affordable for different groups of singaporeans to travel when they like and as they like with ease. this makes public transport more affordable. the public transport vouchers help the lower income commuters cope with the fare hike.

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a) Financial assistance is given from MOE to families of a relatively lower socioeconomic status (SES) with children attending school. This financial assistance makes school become more affordable for low-income families.

b) Financial assistance helps to ensure a conducive environment for learning for all students as it can subsidize school supplies and uniforms. It also helps to ensure that students can arrive at school on time by subsidizing public transport. Furthermore, it may help students afford after-school enrichment. For example, financial assistance could enable students to afford outside help such as tuition after school. This helps to bridge the barrier between lower SES families and higher SES families because more students can afford outside support for their academics.

This financial assistance also helps students from lower SES families afford higher education. This gives more opportunities to these students, which could possibly break the cycle of income inequality that some low income families face.

Acknowledgements:
https://www.tutorcity.sg/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-moes-financial-assistance-scheme

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a)  GST vouchers are given out to support the lower income citizens that may need subsidies from the government to get basic essentials. This is so that the lower income families do not have to spend their entire lives trying to pay off the debt caused by GST.

b) This makes sure that lower income families would not have to pay as much as the high income families, as those who have more should pay more. GST vouchers is an aid to the lower income families so that their hard earned money will not disappear so quickly because their own government demands for it. They can be compensated as it is unfair for them to have to pay the same amount that high income families do since they do not have that much money they can afford to pay up.

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1) help has been given to those from low-income group by providing the  new minimum salary criterion for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme.
2) Eligible workers will receive support via cash and CPF top-ups to supplement their income and retirement savings.

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(a) MOE provides award money to students who have displayed exemplary conduct or are doing well in their studies. These awards include EAGLES, Edusave academic awards, Edusave Character Award and Edusave Skills Award. They also give out scholarships such as the Pre-University Scholarship to students. This give up to $2,400 per year are offered to top-performing Pre-University students.

(b) This is able to provide financial assistance to students to further their studies or be more motivated to do well. These awards is also based off merit, it does not place your race or class into account and even helps support lower income recipients. For example, the Edusave Merit Bursary gives recipients families, whose monthly household income does not exceed $6,900, this bursary.

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a) GST vouchers help to pay certain expenses for lower- and or middle-income so houses so that families do not have to pay all the expenses themselves which supports them and makes sure they have enough money to support themselves.

b) This GST vouchers can help to reduce the income inequality by a) subsidising and paying expenses for the lower/middle income housing and b) reducing the same subsidies and vouchers to little or none for the higher-income households as they have the means to support themselves. Hence lowering the income gap and making things economically fair.

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(a) It provides a safety net for patients who face financial difficulties with their remaining bills after receiving Government subsidies and drawing on other means of payment including MediShield Life, MediSave and cash.

MediFund Silver and MediFund Junior are also carved out from MediFund to provide more targeted assistance for the needy elderly and the young respectively.

As an endowment fund, interest income generated from the capital sum are allocated to approved healthcare institutions , for them to assist with the medical bill payments of needy patients.

(b) the Medifund committee helps to consider and approve applications, and decide on the appropriate quantum of assistance to provide. The actual amount of assistance you receive depends on you and your family members' financial , health and social circumstances, as well as the size of the medical bill incurred. Hence, not everyone can apply for Medifund, which reduces income inequality

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(a) medifund helps singaporeans who are financially unable to pay their medical bills even with subsidies from the government

(b) this will help singaporeans in need to get sufficient healthcare and get appropriate financial help depending on their assessed situation.

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a) What is the help given?
- Grants for first time home purchases
; Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) of up to $80,000 when purchasing resale or new flats. This is for families with an income ceiling of $9,000
; CPF Housing Grant of up to $50,000 when purchasing resale flats. This is for families with an income ceiling of $14,000
; Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) of up to $30,000 when purchasing resale flats. This is for families living with or within a 4km radius of their parents' home

- Opportunities to gain new skills for new careers
; SkillsFuture credit of $500 are made available to Singaporeans and aims to encourage individuals to take ownership of their skill development and lifelong learning
; Workforce Singapore Careers Connect offers free career guidance for individuals
; SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy of up to 90% off course fee if one is eligible

- Subsidies on necessities
; GST Voucher of up to $400 provided to residents living in HDB Flats. Provide help with the payment of household utility bills
; Personal Income Tax Rebate of up to $200
; Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) Rebate which offsets S&CC expenses for up to 3.5 months for those living in HDB Flats

b) How does it help to overcome / reduce the income inequality?
- Housing grants
; Offers a fair chance to everyone to secure a home despite the income of each household

- Career opportunities
; Gives individuals another chance to reintegrate into the work force especially after the pandemic has affected many individuals
; Furthermore, it allows individuals to gain knowledge of new skills to broaden their job opportunities and choices for a job of higher pay

- Offsetting day-to-day expenses
; Provides assistance for their daily household expenditure

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a) Subsidies for hospital wards (B2/C) range from 10%-80%, depending on your household income. For instance, a singaporean household income of $800 and below can receive a 75% subsidy rate.

Insurance such as MediShield life and CareShield life, which help Singaporeans pay expensive hospital bills. There is a maximum claim of $150 thousand a year and there is a required amount to pay before using MediShield. For example, the day surgery deductible is $1500-$2000.

Medisave, where part of your salary is saved for payment of any surgery, hospitalisation, health screenings, medical insurance that you or immediate family members have.

b) These help reduce income inequality by reducing the cost that low income households must pay for healthcare. As seen, they are also given extra subsidies compared to higher income households. Therefore, they do not become extremely poor and increase the income equality.

Sources: https://www.gov.sg/article/how-government-keeps-healthcare-costs-affordable-in-face-of-rising-global-healthcare-costs

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/costs-and-financing/11/subsidies_intermediate_long_term_care

https://www.moh.gov.sg/home/our-healthcare-
system/medishield-life/what-is-medishield-life/how-to-make-a-medishield-life-claim

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(a) For couples or families who are a first-timer applicants buying a HDB or resale flat, they can apply for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant.

For couples or families who are applicants buying a HDB resale flat, they can apply for the CPF Housing Grants For Resale Flats.

For couple or families who are second-timer applicants, they can apple for the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant.

For those who are buying a resale flat to live with or near their parents or children, they can apply for the Proximity Housing Grant.

(b) these grants helps to reduce income inequality as it provides different types of subsidies to help couples or families afford a home to live in.

Source: https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-flat/flat-and-grant-eligibility/couples-and-families/proximity-housing-grant-families

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(a) the government ensures that all singaporeans are well protected against diseases, viruses and makes sure we are all in good healthy by having subsidies, insurance, medisave and safety nets. such subsidies include up to 80% of your hospitalisation bill at public hospitals, insurance includes medishield life which helps to pay for large hospitalisation bills and selected costly treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis.   medisave and safety nets are funds that are set aside that can help pay for surgery, health screenings and etc.

(b) this helps to overcome income inequality, as these are rights that are given to every singaporean, regardless of your economical status. by providing subsidies and things like medisave and medifund, singapore helps to make sure everyone’s basic needs are met, overcoming the income inequality.

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a) To help families with lower income through subsidies for education.

b) By subsidising some essential costs, it allows students from lower income families to have all the necessary items for school. Some of these include uniforms and even after school care. This is to ensure that they can receive a well-rounded and Enriched learning experience:)

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a) Students in a government or government-aided school, autonomous government or government-aided school or specialised school, can apply for the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS).

b) For primary and secondary school students, the MOE FAS covers 100% of school and standard miscellaneous fees, the cost of textbooks and school uniforms, and provides meal and transport subsidies.

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a) MOE has provided students with Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA), which is part of the Post-Secondary Education Scheme to help pay for students' education. It is opened automatically for all eligible Singaporeans. Singaporeans with a Child Development Account (CDA), parental contributions to PSEA, those part of the Household Support Package as announced in Budget 2022, those with Edusave accounts, National Service housing, medical and education awards, along with Annual education bursary are eligible for this.

b) This scheme helps to overcome / reduce the income inequality by providing more students from a low-income family background more opportunities to pursue their further studies post-secondary. This ensures more equal and balanced-out education throughout the country, not just catered to those with a good economic background. This promotes greater equality and hence reduces the income inequality in the community.

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a) MOE provides all students with an Edusave account, which is for students to use for the education. Example, if there was any school-related fees, the government will take money from the Edusave account.

b) this will allow the students to have a better education. students will still be able to take part in their education even if they are part of a low-income family, as the money used has been given by the government.

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a) The government offers government loan schemes such as Tuition Fee Loan and Study Loan in order to help students finance their diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.

b) This helps to reduce income inequality as it provides students from low-income families to pursue their studies in university, allowing students who are not so well of to have the same education opportunities as others. The loan schemes aid the students financially, so they do not have to give up their education due to a lack of income.

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a) it allows Singaporeans to enjoy concessionary fares, and take public transport at discounted rates. These concessions ensure that getting around the island is affordable for different groups of Singaporeans to travel when they like, as they like with ease. Singapore has been investing heavily in the public transport system to make it more convenient, reliable and accessible.
b) it reduces the income inequality by allowing people with lower ses to spend less money on public transport and can save more money for other stuff. it allows them to commute with lower fares and receive more support.

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WIS encourages eligible workers to work and build up their CPF savings for their retirement, housing and healthcare needs, by supplementing their income and retirement savings through cash payments and CPF contributions.

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a) There is financial support provided to Singapore students at every stage of education. Example, the gross monthly household income ceiling for means-tested preschool subsidies was raised to $12,000, Student Care Centres (SCCs) provide care and support for students in primary and secondary schools after school hours and there are also significant subsidies for tertiary education for Singapore Citizens where Singaporean students from low to middle-income households have additional financial support available in the form of government bursaries.

b) Families with kids in kindergarten would be able to enjoy the subsidies, students in primary and secondary school that have lower incomes would be able to receive monthly subsidies a one-off grant to offset enrolment costs. Additionally, activities will be provided to these students so that they would get the most out of their education and they will also receive yearly contributions to their Edusave accounts. For those taking Tertiary education, they will be able to benefit from these bursaries for their diploma and degree courses.

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1. A voucher that’s given out to help cover GST fees in terms of cash, medisave, and U-Save, given to those of the lower income classes

2. It overcomes income inequality as it helps cover some of their medical and daily necessities to help lighten some of their financial worries.

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MOE provides financial assistance for those who are in need of the assistance. eg, subsidising how much they pay for textbook, schooling. their school uniforms are provided for.

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MOE provides financial assistance for those who are in need of the assistance. eg, subsidising how much they pay for textbook, schooling. their school uniforms are provided for.

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A) MediFund is an endowment fund set up by the Government. It provides a safety net for patients who face financial difficulties with their remaining bills after receiving Government subsidies and drawing on other means of payment including MediShield Life, MediSave and cash. Every MediFund-approved institution has an independent MediFund Committee to consider and approve applications, and decide on the appropriate quantum of assistance to provide. The actual amount of assistance you receive depends on you and your family members' financial , health and social circumstances, as well as the size of the medical bill incurred.

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(a) there is now a broader range of people eligible for the WIS, which gives these people 40% payment in cash, and 60% in CPF contributions
(b) since more people are now eligible for this scheme, it ensures that the scheme would be more inclusive towards lower wage workers, and enables the differentiation between lower wage workers and casual workers, to ensure that these lower wage workers would benefit the most from this scheme, thereby decreasing the income gap between lower and higher wage workers.