1 More than 6,660 individuals who required support during the COVID-19 pandemic have benefitted from generous donations to The Courage Fund. The beneficiaries include healthcare workers who stepped up in the thick of the pandemic to lower-income households
who were directly affected by COVID-19. As we move towards a COVID-19 resilient Singapore, MSF and NCSS will be making adjustments to The Courage Fund (TCF) application criteria to ensure that support continues to be channeled to those with greater
needs. These adjustments will take effect on 14 February 2022.
2 The TCF was established in 2003 when Singapore was hit by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, to provide relief to SARS victims and
healthcare workers. In 2020, the TCF was re-launched and the Community Chest rallied the community to donate to TCF to provide relief and support to those affected by COVID-19. As of 31 January 2022, TCF has received around $18.5 million in donations
for COVID-19 from the community, with around $7.4 million disbursed to over 6,660 beneficiaries.
Adjustments to The Courage Fund (COVID-19) Application Criteria
3 We will adjust the Courage Fund eligibility criteria to prioritise support for healthcare workers who are at the frontline of our fight against COVID-19. We will require healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated themselves to qualify for the Courage Fund.
4 We will close the TCF schemes for other frontline workers and community volunteers who contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty, to reflect the prevailing situation where most COVID-19 patients have mild or no symptoms. All frontline social service and healthcare workers who have made contributions and exceptional personal sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19 can, via their organisations, continue to tap on The Courage Fund’s ongoing Appreciation Scheme for their welfare needs. (Please refer to Table 1 for details on the updated application criteria)
Table 1 Updated Application Criteria for The Courage Fund
Before 14 February 2022 | From 14 February 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
[Revised] Healthcare workers who succumb to the virus after contracting it in the line of duty. | Healthcare workers, including those not involved directly in patient-fronting duties. | Only fully vaccinated1healthcare workers directly involved in patient-fronting COVID-19 duties would be eligible. |
[Closed] Frontline workers and community volunteers who succumb to the virus after contracting it in the line of duty. | Frontline workers and community volunteers who has contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty and subsequently succumb to the virus.
COVID is also stated as a leading / antecedent cause or condition leading to death in death certificates.
| Closed, in alignment with ongoing transition to a COVID-19 resilient society. |
[Closed] All other members of the public who succumb to the virus. | Members of public who has succumb to the virus and COVID is stated as a leading / antecedent cause or condition leading to death in death certificates.
| Closed, in alignment with ongoing transition to a COVID-19 resilient society. |
[Revised] Education Grant for children of healthcare workers, frontline workers, and community volunteers who succumb to the virus after contracting it in the line of duty. | Children of healthcare workers, frontline workers, and community volunteers. | Only children of healthcare workers directly involved in patient-fronting COVID-19 duties would be eligible. |
[Revised] Healthcare workers who contract the virus in the line of duty. | Healthcare workers, including those not involved directly in patient-fronting COVID-19 duties. |
|
[Closed] Frontline workers and community volunteers who contract the virus in the line of duty. | Frontline workers and community who fulfilled all of the following criteria
Knowingly placing oneself at heightened risk while engaged in providing services to suspected/positive COVID-19 patients and/or environments storing suspected/positive COVID-19 patients | Closed, to reflect the prevailing situation where most COVID-19 patients have mild or no symptoms |
[No change] Appreciation Scheme to recognise the contributions of frontline social service and healthcare workers for the exceptional personal sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19. | Eligible organisations may receive up to $20,000 funding assistance capped at $100 per staff to appreciate their staff in the healthcare and social service sectors. | |
[No change] Relief for lower-income households directly affected by COVID-19 | Lower-income households which have experienced income loss due to at least one household member being placed on a/an Isolation Order/Quarantine Order/Stay-Home Notice/mandatory Leave of Absence or was hospitalised due to contracting COVID-19. | |
5 Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, said “We are grateful for the generous donations to The Courage Fund, to help those in our community who are affected by the pandemic. As Singapore continues on our way towards recovery, we are adjusting our support measures to ensure that support is channeled to members of our community who need it most. For lower-income households who may face greater challenges in getting back on their feet, and for our healthcare workers who are crucial to the recovery of our COVID-19 patients, The Courage Fund, together with our other existing support measures, will continue to provide support and ensure that no one is left behind as we progress toward a COVID-19 resilient Singapore”.
6 For more information on The Courage Fund, please visit www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/the-courage-fund. Eligible individuals who wish to apply for assistance under the TCF scheme for lower-income households directly affected by COVID-19, can apply online via go.gov.sg/tcf.
7 Please refer to Annex A for the Frequently Asked Questions.
Annex A