The COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) provides temporary financial support for lower to middle-income employees and self-employed persons (SEPs) who experience involuntary job loss, involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) or income loss for at least three consecutive months.
Applications are open till 31 December 2023. Click here to apply.
Applicants should fulfil the following criteria in the table below:
| |
Employees |
SEPs |
| Age |
21 years old and above |
| Citizenship |
Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) |
| Annual Value (AV) of Residential Property |
Living in a residential property with AV not more than $21,000 (as of 31 Dec 2022). Applicant should not own more than one residential property. |
| Prior household income |
[From 1 Jan 2023] Prior to job or income loss or involuntary NPL, gross household income of not more than $6,000 or gross per capita household income of not more than $2,000. |
| Economically active |
[From 1 Jan 2023] Employees should have worked for at least six months cumulatively between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. |
[From 1 Jan 2023] SEPs should have declared* annual net trade income (NTI) in either 2021 or 2022.
Additionally, SEPs should provide supporting documents on their line of work.
*SEPs may retroactively declare their NTI in past years by submitting a Self-Employed Person Income Declaration Form to the CPF Board. The form can be found on the CPFB website at go.gov.sg/income-declaration.
[For CRG renewal] All SEP applicants who have received CRG or CRG-Temporary before must meet one of the following at the point of application to qualify:
a. Have no outstanding MediSave contributions; or
b. Have outstanding MediSave contributions but are committed to making contributions via a GIRO# plan.
# To ensure that they continue to play a role in saving for their healthcare needs, all applicants, including present employees who were previously SEPS, should have no outstanding Medisave contributions to qualify for a renewal of assistance. Applicants may visit cpf.gov.sg/SEPHome to check their outstanding MediSave contributions and make payment arrangements.
|
| Job / Income loss |
Full-time or part-time employee who is presently:
- Involuntarily unemployed (due to retrenchment/contract termination);
- On involuntary NPL for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Jan – Mar 2023); or
- Experiencing salary loss for at least three consecutive months, with an average overall loss of at least 50% from all jobs as a part-time or full-time employee (e.g. Jan – Mar 2023)
|
[From 1 Jan 2023] Presently experiencing NTI loss for at least three consecutive months, with an average overall loss of at least 50% at the point of application, compared to their average monthly NTI in 2021 or 2022.
|
| Job search or training requirement |
[From 1 Jan 2023] Applicants must have actively participated in job search or training, and show proof of any of the following activities in the two months prior to application:
- Submitted at least three applications via Government-linked touchpoints for jobs or attachements (e.g. MyCareersFuture portal, the Career Conversion Programme portal); or
- Attended at least three job interviews; or
- Registered with WSG’s Careers Connect, WSG-appointed Career Matching Providers (Ingeus or MAXIMUS) or NTUC-e2i Centres for career coaching and have commenced the coaching session(s); or
- Applied for at least one training programme listed on MySkillsFuture portal.
Notes:
- In lieu of the job search or training requirement, SEPs may also submit supporting evidence of three attempts to improve their business revenue or reach out to new clients/business opportunities, as proof of job search.
- Employees who are facing salary loss or are on involuntary NPL will be exempted from this requirement.
|
| Exclusion Criteria |
Recipients of ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance or Long-Term Assistance may apply for the CRG when receiving their last month of ComCare payouts. If approved, their CRG grants will commence only after the cessation of their ComCare payouts.
Applicants who are Full-time National Servicemen at the point of application are not eligible.
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| Tranches (each tranche provides 3 months of assistance) |
[From 1 Jan 2023] Eligible persons can receive a maximum of three tranches (i.e. nine months) of CRG between 2021 and 2023 (e.g., those who have received two tranches of CRG between 2021 and 2022 can receive one more tranche in 2023; those who did not receive CRG in 2021 or 2022 can receive up to three tranches in 2023).
To render further employment support, NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will be contacting individuals who are receiving their third tranche of CRG to refer them to resources that can support their job search efforts.
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Each tranche of financial support provided through the CRG will be as follows:
Up to $700 per month for three months to employees who at the point of application are:
- Unemployed due to retrenchment or involuntary contract termination; or
- Placed on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) for at least three consecutive months.
Up to $500 per month for three months to:
- Employees who are facing salary loss for at least three consecutive months, with an average overall loss of at least 50% at the point of application; and
- [From 1 Jan 2023] SEPs who are facing a loss in their net trade income (NTI) for at least three cosecutive months, with an average overall loss of at least 50% at the point of application, compared to their average monthly NTI in 2021 or 2022.
Assistance will be credited directly into the successful applicant’s bank account every month for three months, following approval.
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Applications are open 24/7 until 31 December 2023, 2359hours (including weekends and public holidays). Click here to apply.
Those who need help filling in the online application form can call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000) or email ask_sso@msf.gov.sg for assistance. Those who are not able to apply online can visit their nearest Social Service Office (go.gov.sg/ssolocator) for assistance.
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Each applicant will be informed of the outcome of his/her application via SMS in about two weeks, upon submission of all required supporting documents.
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Applicants need to submit all of the following supporting documents:
- Documents on bank account details for fund disbursement.
- [For employees] Relevant documents indicating involuntary loss of job, placement on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) or income loss, including:
- A letter of retrenchment/termination of contract; or
- A letter from employer stating placement on involuntary NPL for at least three consecutive months; or
- A letter from employer indicating an average monthly salary loss of at least 50% for at least three consecutive months; or
- Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary before and and in the months when the applicant was experiencing the job loss, placement on involuntary NPL or salary loss.
- [For self-employed persons]: Relevant documents indicating that you are working as a self-employed person (e.g. valid trade licence(s), contracts for service, income statements, tax invoices billed to service buyers, receipts issued for services, or list of client engagements).
- [For SEPs and employees applying based on involuntary job loss] Supporting documents indicating your active participation in job search or training e.g. confirmation of application for training via Government touchpoints. The documents should minimally indicate:
- Your name; and
- Date of application; and
- The name of the company/employer that you applied or interviewed at, or the training provider and course title of the training that you attended.
In lieu of these, self-employed persons may submit relevant supporting evidence of three attempts to reach out to clients/business (e.g. pivoting business to cater to wider target audience, actors attending auditions, putting up advertisements to solicit for business) in the two months before your application.
Supporting Documents for Job Search/ Training Efforts
- Individuals can apply for job and attachment opportunities, if available, through the MyCareersFuture portal.
- Examples of training programmes are SkillsFuture-supported courses. These training programmes can be found on the MySkillsFuture portal, and interested individuals can approach the respective training providers listed to apply for courses.
- Please refer to the list below for examples of acceptable documents.
| S/N |
Type of Job Search and/or Training Efforts |
Permissible Documents |
| 1. |
At least three applications via Government-linked touchpoints (e.g. MyCareersFuture portal) for jobs or attachments |
Record of job or attachment applications
Note: Where possible, MSF will retrieve your job application records from MyCareersFuture portal directly. |
| 2. |
At least three job interviews |
Record of job interviews
- Acknowledgement letters/emails/screenshots of interviews scheduled/attended
|
| 3. |
Registered with WSG Careers Connect, WSG-appointed Career Matching providers or NTUC-e2i Career Centres for career coaching and have commenced the coaching session(s) |
Record(s) of career coaching received at:
- WSG Careers Connect;
- WSG-appointed Career Matching Providers (Ingeus or MAXIMUS)]; or
- NTUC-e2i Centres
|
| 4. |
At least one application for a training programme listed on MySkillsFuture portal |
Record showing application for/enrolment in course(s) under MySkillsFuture portal
- Email receipts or screenshots showing application for/enrolment in course(s) supported by SkillsFuture Singapore, or certificates attained upon successful completion of course(s). Emails or screenshots should minimally indicate name of applicant, date of application, course title, and name of training provider.
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Top FAQs:
1. What are the key changes to the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) from 2023?
- Revised Income Criteria: Eligible applicants should either have household income <$6,000/month or per capita households income <$2,000/month, prior to their involuntary job loss, no-pay leave or income loss.
- Revised job search requirement: Employees applying for CRG based on involuntary job loss need to submit proof of at least three job applications or participating in job search. In lieu of the job search requirement, SEPs need to submit supporting evidence of three attempts to improve their business revenue or reach out to new clients.
- Updates in eligibility criteria, to align with the extended application period:
i. Under the economic activity criterion, employees must have worked for at least six months cumulatively between Jan 2021 and Dec 2022 instead of 1 Jan 2020 and 31 Dec 2021. SEPs must have declared their annual net trade income (NTI) in 2021 0r 2022, instead of 2020 or 2021.
ii. Under the income loss criterion, SEPs' NTI would be compared to their average monthly NTI in 2022 or 2021, instead of 2020 or 2021.
- These changes will take effect from 1 Jan 2023.
2. Why is MSF tightening the CRG income eligibility criteria?
- The economic impact of COVID-19 has gradually diminished as Singapore transited to living with COVID-19. As such, we have tightened the income eligibility criteria to direct support towards those with greater needs.
3. Why are there no changes to the maximum number of CRG tranches a recipient can receive, even though applications for CRG have been extended?
- We have retained the maximum number of CRG tranches eligible recipients can receive to ensure prudence in the use of public monies, as financial support would not be as effective in helping recipients who have received three tranches of CRG support (i.e. nine months) to improve their employment circumstances - such recipients are likely to require targeted employment support instead to improve their circumstances.
- NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will also continue to contact third-time CRG recipients, to refer them to resources that can support their job search efforts.
- Third-time CRG recipients who require financial assistance for their basic living expenses can approach our Social Service Offices (SSOs) for assessment for other social assistance schemes.
4. How many tranches of CRG assistance are applicants eligible for? Can a first-time CRG applicant receive up to three trances of CRG in 2023?
- From 1 Jan 2023, eligible applicants can receive a maximum of three tranches of CRG between 2021 and 2023. A successful CRG applicant receives three months of assistance per tranche.
- Eligible applicants who did not receive CRG in 2021 or 2022 can receive up to three tranches of CRG in 2023, provided they meet all eligibility criteria at the point of application.
- Those who received one or two tranches of CRG between 2021 and 2022 can receive up to two or one more tranche of CRG in 2023 respectively.
- Existing CRG recipients who continue to meet the eligibility criteria can apply online for a renewal of their CRG assistance with the necessary supporting documents, if they are in their final month of assistance or if their prior assistance has ended.
5. Do applicants need to submit another application for the CRG if they wish to renew their application although they had previously successfully applied for the grant?
- Yes, all applicants who are applying for a renewal of their CRG are required to submit a new application reflecting their current status. Applicants must also continue to fulfil the CRG eligibility criteria at the point of application.
6. For applicants on no-pay leave or experiencing income loss, can the period of assessment for the first or second CRG application overlap with the period of assessment for their future applications?
- No, any renewal of CRG application must be supported by a new period of three consecutive months of NPL or income loss, with no overlaps with the period of NPL or income loss from earlier applications. This is to ensure that there is no duplicate support provided for the same period of income loss.
7. How can CRG applicants who need support in their job search or training efforts get help?
- Applicants may wish to refer to the following resources for assistance:
Third-time CRG recipients will also be contacted and offered job search assistance (e.g., career advisory or sharing of employability resources) by WSG or NTUC's e2i.
8. When will an applicant know the outcome of his/her application for the CRG? How will they be notified?
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We aim to process your application within about two weeks, if all the required supporting documents have been submitted and are in order. Each applicant will be informed of the outcome of his/her application via SMS.
- If applicants do not receive a SMS from MSF informing them of the outcome after about two weeks from submission of application for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant, with all the necessary supporting documents, they can check on the status of their application through the application portal, or email Ask_SSO@msf.gov.sg or call the ComCare hotline at 1800-222-0000 to enquire.
9. When is the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) payout date?
The payout in the first month is typically disbursed seven calendar days from the day the application is approved. For the subsequent two months (CRG provides successful applicants with three months of assistance each time), it will usually be by the 4th of each month.
10. If applicants need help to apply online for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant, who can they approach?
Applicants can call the ComCare hotline at 1800-222-0000 for assistance. If they are unable to call, they can approach their nearest Social Assistance Office (SSO) (go.gov.sg/ssolocator) for assistance
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