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

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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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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?

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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?

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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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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)
`The Government helps students through subsidies where every student have a chance to go through at least 8 years of education. (Above 6 years old until under 15 years old)
`Singapore Citizens in financial need can get assistance on school fees and other expenses.
`Government also give awards to students based on their character, leadership, conduct, learning dispositions and academic performance to encourage students :
~Edusave academic awards (including of the Edusave scholarship, Merit Bursary and Good Progress Award)
~EAGLES Award
~Edusave Character Award
~Edusave Skills Award
`Government loan schemes, such as Tuition Fee Loan and Study Loan, are available to help students finance their diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate programmes
`The Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) is part of the Post-Secondary Education Scheme to help pay for the students’ post-secondary education
(b)
`It will allow the ease on the strain on the incomes inequality among the community in SG.
Where there is lesser of difference of ability of being able to have education between the community of SG.
Every students have a chance to learn for at least 8 years from 7 years old to 14 years old since the government emphasise a lot on providing compulsory education for every child.

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A) when you’re applying for a HDB flat as a couple, the government will give them a grant based on the HDB type. For example, if a HDB flat is a resale type, the CPF housing grant given is around $10,000-$30,000

B) CPF (or HDB) Housing Grants are given to lower- and middle-income families to help make their home purchases more affordable.
This allows everyone to have a house and they would be able to have similar living conditions to those in the upper-middle class and the higher middle class.

CPF also reduces the financial burden of people such as people who are pursuing higher education and do not have a stable job yet and it helps to enable the younger generation to have money for the future.

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What is the help given?

- The permanent GST Voucher scheme was introduced by the Government in Budget 2012 to help lower-income Singaporeans. It is a form of household support from the government. The GST Voucher is given in three components – Cash, MediSave and U-Save. Citizens are notified through SMS when their mobile numbers are registered with SingPass.

- Cash provides lower-income Singaporeans with some cash for immediate needs (eg. Rice, household expenses; immediate cash outlays). It is paid in August each year.

- MediSave provides elderly Singaporeans aged 65 and above with a top-up to their CPF MediSave account, to support their medical needs. It is credited to their CPF MediSave account in August each year.

- Utility Save (U-Save) provides lower- and middle-income HDB households with quarterly rebates to offset their utilities bills. It is paid in January, April, July and October each year, every three months.

- Under the Household Support Package, the Assurance Package for GST to cushion impact of planned GST increase and enhancements to permanent GST Voucher scheme to provide continuing help to defray GST expenses of lower- to middle-income Singaporean households have been imposed

How has this helped to reduce income inequality?
- Helps Singaporean families manage cost of living pressures by providing support for daily essentials through GST Vouchers
- Provide continuing help to defray GST expenses of lower- to middle-income Singaporean households
- Ease the strain on income inequality

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vaccinations- MOH plans to enhance subsidies for vaccinations through vaccination and childhood developmental screening subsidies

medishield- basic health insurance scheme, which helps pay for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments

careshield life- basic long term care insurance scheme that features payouts which increase with no caps on payout duration, to allow for improved protection and assurance against long-terms costs, especially to those who are severely disabled

medisave- national medical savings scheme which helps an individual set aside part of their income into an account, with government provided interest

community health assist schemes- enablement to receive subsidies for medical / dental care at GP and dental clinics

eldershield- long-term care insurance scheme targeted at those with severe disabilities, especially those in old age

medifund- endowment fund set up by the government for those who need further financial assistance after receiving subsidies and drawing on other forms of payment eg medisheild

subdivides for services and drugs at public healthcare institutions- ensure patients have access to more affordable care

enhanced screen for life- national screening programme aimed to encourage people to go for regular screening and follow ups

interim disability assurance programme for the elderly- provides financial help to the needy and disabled  elder singaporean's who were not eligible for eldershield

foreign domestic workers levy concession for persons with disabilities- support households who need to hire domestic workers to care for family members by paying a lower monthly concession

seniors moblility and enabling fund- caring for seniors at home

caregiving training grant- supports caregivers of seniors and those with disabilities to attend necessary caregiving training courses to better meet the physical and emotional needs of their care recipients

elderfund- targeted to assist severely disabled lower income singapore citizens over the age of 30

home caregiving grant- lower the cost of caregiving expenses eg cost of elder care / caregiver support services

subsidies for government-funded intermediate and long term care services- subsidises for services who need further care and treatment following their discharge from the hospital

pioneer generation package- intuitive aiming to make healthcare affordable for the pioneer generation

merdeka generation package- helps seniors stay active and healthy by allowing them to have greater peace of mind regarding their future healthcare costs

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Medifund is a form of subsidy that provides support to those who are unable to pay for their medical fees even after reducing the cost through other subsidies. The fund is applicable to Singapore Citizens, subsidised patients, those who have received or require treatment from a Medifund-approved institution or those who have difficulties paying for healthcare bills after Government subsidies and other means including MediShield Life, Medisave, and cash.

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A) Medifund is an endowment fund set up by the Government. It includes MediShield life, Medisave and cash. It helps patients who face financial difficulties with their remaining bills. There are two different Medifund, Medifund silver and Medifund junior, It is mostly targeted towards the needy elderly and the young respectively.

B) It allows the needy lower class to get the same help as the other classes at an affordable price, for example through Medisave, it helps foot the medical bills of the patient. Hence, no matter how poor, everyone is able to afford medical bills.

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Support is given to at older, lower wage Singaporean workers whose earnings are in the bottom 20% of the working population. It is also available for those earning slightly more. Eligible workers will receive support via cash and CPF top-ups to supplement their income and retirement savings.

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the government subsidies up to 90 precent of the cost of education only for Singaporen citizens

families can apply for the FAS financial assistance the,e if they require financial help, furthermore school fees for singaporeans   are way cheaper and affordable than foreign students hence it is more feasible for singaporean citizens . this helps singaporean students to get the education that all other peopel who can afford sch can get. everyone is given the opportunity to learn and are provided with the same resources in school, from there each student can work hard to reach where they want ot . hence the government gives singaporeans the opportunity rto have access to education and resource however it is up to the person to make good use of it and work hard .

overall it reduces the income inequality as everyone is able to access school and education is not neglected due to financial reasons.

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MediShield Life is a basic health insurance plan, administered by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board, which helps to pay for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy for cancer. It is structured so that patients pay less MediSave/cash for large hospital bills.

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Who is Eligible?

All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, including the very old and those who have pre-existing conditions.

Click here for more information.

What are the Benefits?

MediShield Life is sized for subsidised treatment in public hospitals and pegged at B2/C-type wards. If you choose to stay in an A/B1-type ward or in a private hospital, you are still covered by MediShield Life. However, you will find that your MediShield Life payout will cover only a small proportion of your bill. You would need to draw from MediSave and/or cash to pay the balance.

Click here for more information on how to make a MediShield Life Claim.

Click here to read more on MediShield Life Benefits.

How can I enhance MediShield Life coverage?

If you plan to use an A/B1-type ward in a public hospital or go to a private hospital for your future hospitalisations, you can consider purchasing a MediSave-approved private Integrated Shield Plan (IP), an insurance plan that comprises:

MediShield Life

Private insurance coverage providing additional benefits and coverage (e.g. to cover the costs of private hospitals or A/B1-type wards in the public hospitals).

If you have an IP, you are already covered by MediShield Life. The premiums you pay to your private insurer already include the premiums for the MediShield Life component.

Click here for more information.

Which IP should I choose?

Can I pay my IP Premiums using MediSave?

The MediShield Life component of your Integrated Shield Plan is fully payable by MediSave.

The additional private insurance component is also payable by MediSave, but only up to the following Additional Withdrawal Limits:

$300 per year for those at age 40 years and below on their next birthday

$600 per year for those at age 41 to 70 years on their next birthday

$900 per year for those at age 71 years and above on their next birthday

Any excess would need to be paid in cash.

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MediShield Life is a basic health insurance plan, administered by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board, which helps to pay for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy for cancer. It is structured so that patients pay less MediSave/cash for large hospital bills.

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it makes healthcare more affordable, especially for lower income families. especially by using taxes paid by the rich to subsidies healthcare for lower income families, this helps to improve wealth distribution and reduce income inequality. people of different income would also be able to receive adequate and required healthcare hence improving social welfare. Not worried about falling sick and not getting the required healthcare needs.

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A . 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.

B .  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.

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It helps to overcome income inequality by ensuring There are schemes across different stages of Singapore’s education system, regardless of the child’s background.

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.

For Singaporean students from low to middle-income households, additional financial support is available in the form of government bursaries.

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.

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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(b) This would help to lower the income inequality as with workfare income supplements, those who are not able to work full hours and earn more due to personal medical or health reasons are still able to earn as much as an average worker, making it more fair for all the workers. For workers who are earning less than $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. With this, it would help improve the quality of life of those low-income workers who are unable to afford it.

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Government provides large subsidies for students across different stages of Singapore’s education system to ensure good educational opportunities, regardless of the child’s background.
For preschool, 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. Hence, this makes preschool more affordable for low income families.

For primary and secondary education, Students from lower-income families can receive monthly subsidies for student care fees. 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. Thus, this reduces the burden on households to pay for education.

For tertiary education, 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. Therefore, there are many subsidiary plans for students to look into and choose based on their financial needs.

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a) the government subsidies up to 90 precent of the cost of education only for Singaporen citizens where every student has a chance to go through at least 8 years of education. (Above 6 years old until under 15 years old)

families can apply for the FAS financial assistance the,e if they require financial help, furthermore school fees for singaporeans  are way cheaper and affordable than foreign students hence it is more feasible for singaporean citizens . this helps singaporean students to get the education that all other peopel who can afford sch can get. everyone is given the opportunity to learn and are provided with the same resources in school, from there each student can work hard to reach where they want ot . hence the government gives singaporeans the opportunity rto have access to education and resource however it is up to the person to make good use of it and work hard .

Government also give awards to students based on their character, leadership, conduct, learning dispositions and academic performance to encourage students :

~Edusave academic awards (including of the Edusave scholarship, Merit Bursary and Good Progress Award)

~EAGLES Award

~Edusave Character Award

~Edusave Skills Award

`Government loan schemes, such as Tuition Fee Loan and Study Loan, are available to help students finance their diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate programmes

`The Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) is part of the Post-Secondary Education Scheme to help pay for the students’ post-secondary education

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what is the help given? :
-the help given for public transport is that subsidies are given to the community. 70% off of adult fare for primary, secondary, jc and ite students. Meanwhile for poly students they can save up to $1.54 for journey. Senior citizens get 55% off adult fares. lower wage workers get up to 25% off adult fare. persons with disabilities get up to 55% off adult fares. This shows that the government makes transport accessible and affordable for all
-public transport vouchers are given out due to the latest fare hike which raised fares by 2.2 percent.

How does it help to overcome/ reduce the income inequality? :
-it helps people to afford public transport which is convenient reliable and accessible for everyone
-with vouchers, it helps lower income commuters cope with the latest fare hike.

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(b)
Subsidies offered will allow the ease on the strain on the incomes inequality among the community in SG,where there is lesser of difference of ability of being able to have education between the community of SG.  overall it reduces the income inequality as everyone is able to access school and education and is not neglected due to financial reasons. Not only does this ensure equality and peace in Singapore, but it also prevents discrimination.

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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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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.