Support For Singaporeans Affected by COVID-19

Temporary Relief Fund

Target beneficiaries and eligibility criteria

The Temporary Relief Fund supports lower- and middle-income Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 and who need immediate financial help with basic living expenses.

The eligibility criteria for the Temporary Relief Fund are as follows:

·         Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 16 years and above.

·         Was retrenched or suffered substantial (at least 30%) loss of personal income due to COVID-19.

Note: Loss of job or income must have taken place after 23 Jan 2020 when COVID-19 first occurred in Singapore.

·         Had a gross monthly household income of ≤$10,000, or a gross monthly per capita income of ≤$3,100 prior to loss of job or income; and

·         Not a current beneficiary of ComCare assistance, i.e. Long-Term Assistance, Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance, Interim Assistance. (Note: ComCare clients currently receive comprehensive support, and will be assisted by SSOs if they require more assistance due to changes in their financial circumstances)

·    Full-time students and NSFs should not apply

Assistance provided

One-off $500 cash assistance in April 2020.

Applying at SSO or Community Centre/Club

·         SSOs: Disbursed by cheque.

·         Community Centres/Clubs: Disbursed by PayNow or cheque.

Applying online

·         Disbursed by PayNow

Application window
Applications were open from 1 Apr to 30 Apr 2020.

Application process

Applying online via Singpass

Applicants who have a Singpass account and a registered PayNow account can apply online from 9am to 6pm

During your online application, you will be prompted to upload a copy of the following supporting documents:

·         Letter of retrenchment/termination of contract, if applicable

·         Relevant documents showing reduction of income as a result of COVID-19 (e.g. payslips, CPF statements), if applicable 

Applying at SSO or Community Centre/Club

Fill in the TRF application form .pdf. The forms are also available at any SSO or Community Centre/Club.

Please bring along the following supporting documents when submitting your application form to any of the SSOs or Community Centres/Clubs:

·         NRIC

·         Letter of retrenchment/termination of contract, if applicable

·         Relevant documents showing reduction of income as a result of COVID-19 (e.g. payslips, CPF statements), if applicable

Processing time

As soon as possible

COVID-19 Support Grant

Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, aged 16 years and above, who are presently involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment or contract termination, or presently on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) for at least three consecutive months, or presently experiencing reduced monthly salary of at least 30% for at least three consecutive months as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19.

The eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Support Grant are as follows:

·         Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 16 years and above.

·    Full-time or part-time employees affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 situation (loss of job/income or start of involuntary no-pay leave should have occurred after 23 Jan 2020):

        - Presently involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment/contract termination;

        - Presently on involuntary NPL for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar - May 2020, May - Jul 2020); or

        - Presently experiencing reduced monthly salary of at least 30% for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar - May 2020, May - Jul 2020);

·         Prior gross monthly household income of ≤$10,000, or monthly per capita income of ≤$3,100

·         Live in a property with annual value of ≤$21,000; and

·         Not a current beneficiary of ComCare assistance, i.e. Long-Term Assistance, & Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance.(Note: ComCare clients currently receive comprehensive support, and will be assisted by SSOs if they require more assistance due to changes in their financial circumstances)

·    Has not already received, or is currently not receiving the COVID-19 Support Grant or the Self-Employed Persons Income Relief Scheme (SIRS)

·    Full-time National Servicemen and interns are not eligible 

Recipients of the support grant must:

·         Have been employed as a full-time or part-time permanent or contract staff prior to job/income loss; and

·         Agree to actively participate in job search or attend a training programme under Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute.

Assistance provided
For those who have experienced involuntary job loss or presently on involuntary NPL for a period of at least three consecutive months - Monthly cash grant of up to $800, for 3 months, will be credited into bank account.The cash support quantum will be based on the last-drawn monthly salary, capped at $800.

Job and training support by Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute.

For those who have experienced income loss of at least 30% for a period of at least three consecutive months - Monthly cash grant of up to $500, for 3 months, will be credited into bank account.The cash support quantum will be based on the last-drawn monthly salary, capped at $500.

Supporting documents required
·    NRIC
·   Bank account number (for fund disbursement)

·   Relevant documents indicating involuntary loss of job, being on involuntary NPL or reduction of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months; such as
         - Letter of retrenchment/termination of contract

         - Letter from employer stating being placed on involuntary NPL for at least three consecutive months

         - Letter from employer indicating loss of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months

·   Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, before loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL, or loss of at least 30% of salary

·   Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, after loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL or loss of at least 30% of salary 

Application

Apply online at go.gov.sg/CSG (9am to 6pm daily) till 30 September 2020. Those who need help filling in the online application form can email Ask_SSO@msf.gov.sg or call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000) for assistance. Those who are not able to apply online can call the ComCare Call hotline to schedule an application slot at their nearest Social Service Office(go.gov.sg/ssolocator).

Application window

Applications open from 4 May – 30 Sep 2020, 9am to 6pm daily.

About 2 weeks upon submission of supporting documents. 

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The Courage Fund For Lower-Income Households affected by COVID-19

Target beneficiaries and eligibility criteria

The Courage Fund will help lower-income households affected by COVID-19 who meet the following criteria:

One-time lump sum of up to $1,000 (depending on the household's per capita income after being affected by COVID-19), credited into bank account.
Please allow 2 - 3 weeks processing time for fund disbursement, upon submission of supporting documents.

Application window
Applications open from 6 April 2020.
Applications should be made within 6 months from the end of the QO, LOA or SHN or discharge from hospitalisation due to COVID-19 (whichever is later).

Application process
Fill in the Courage Fund application form here. These are also available at any SSO.

Please bring along any of the supporting documents when submitting your application to any of the 24 SSOs

NRIC
Bank account number (for fund disbursement)
Proof of QO/ LOA/ SHN/ hospitalisation for affected family member
Relevant documents showing reduction of income as a result of COVID-19 (e.g. payslips before and after the QO/ LOA/ SHN/ hospitalisation episode)

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions

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