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Average amount of cash savings per household member for households who receive ComCare Assistance

Type: Parliamentary Questions

Topic(s): Financial Assistance & Social Support


Question

Ms Anthea Ong
Nominated Member of Parliament


To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development in each of the last five years (a) what is the average amount of cash savings per household member for households who receive (i) ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) and (ii) ComCare Long-Term Assistance (LTA) respectively; (b) what is the number and percentage of applications rejected for (i) SMTA and (ii) LTA respectively due to the household's cash savings; (c) whether the amount of cash savings owned by the applicant is considered in assessing his ComCare application; (d) what is the maximum amount of cash savings per household member allowed; and (e) whether this is communicated publicly.

Answer

1.         In assessing ComCare applications for financial assistance, we examine applicants’ income, owned assets (including personal savings), and expenditure. Where applicants need assistance for their basic living needs, such assistance may take the form of cash assistance, assistance with their household bills, and referrals to other agencies for services such as family services and employment assistance.

2.         In considering applicants’ savings, MSF takes into account factors such as contingency savings for emergency expenses and household size. There is no hard threshold, and Social Service Offices can exercise flexibility taking into account the applicants’ circumstances and needs.

3.         Table 1 provides the average amount of cash savings for households receiving ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) and Long-Term Assistance (LTA) per household member for 2016 to 2018. Data before 2016 is not readily available.

Table 1

 

2016

2017

2018

Average amount of cash savings per household member for households receiving ComCare SMTA ($)

335

283

246

Average amount of cash savings per household member for households receiving ComCare LTA ($)

1000

982

907

 

4.         Table 2 provides the number and percentage of ComCare SMTA and LTA applications that were rejected due to their household’s cash savings from 2016 to 2018.1

Table 2

 

2016

2017

2018

Number of SMTA applications rejected due to their household’s cash savings

1186

1762

1551

Percentage of rejected SMTA applications due to their household’s cash savings out of all rejected SMTA applications (%)

6.8

10.4

10.0

Number of LTA applications rejected due to their household’s cash savings

16

12

10

Percentage of LTA applications rejected due to their household’s cash savings out of all rejected LTA applications (%)

9.5

18.5

22.7

 

1Note Other key reasons for rejecting a ComCare application would include clients withdrawing their applications or being uncontactable, and clients having a stable source of income or financial support.