Lower-Income Households to Receive Enhanced Temporary Financial Assistance

1. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will temporarily enhance ComCare Interim Assistance and SMTA to provide more support to lower-income households affected by higher costs arising from uncertainties in the global economic environment. 

2. The Interim Assistance enhancements will apply from 17 August to 31 December 2026, and will be administered by MSF and the People’s Association (PA).

3. Under the enhanced support:

a. All eligible households will receive at least $250 a month;

b. Households with greater needs, such as those with more dependants, will receive higher monthly assistance;

c. The income eligibility criterion will be applied more flexibly, to support more households facing temporary financial difficulties; and

d. Households may receive assistance for up to three months, depending on their circumstances.

4. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

a. Lower-income Singapore Citizens (SC) or Permanent Residents (PR) with at least one SC immediate family member in the same household; 

b. Reside in public housing; and

c. Not currently receiving ComCare assistance. 

 

5. The usual income criterion for ComCare Interim Assistance is a per capita household income of $800 a month. During the enhancement period, the income criterion will be applied more flexibly. Households facing financial difficulty may apply for Interim Assistance even if their income is above the current threshold. 

6. Households that require longer-term support may be assessed for other forms of ComCare assistance.

7. Households in need of assistance can apply online via the SupportGoWhere portal at https://supportgowhere.life.gov.sg/ or approach a Community Club/Centre. 

8. Households already on ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance, but who need more help, can approach the SSOs for a review. Their monthly cash assistance will be increased by at least 5% or $50, whichever is higher, for up to 3 months. For example, a 5-person household with an elderly member and 2 school-going children that receives around $2,500 monthly cash assistance from ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance will now receive around $130 more per month. This Temporary Supplementary Allowance will apply between 17 August and 31 December 2026. 

9. Mr Goh Pei Ming, Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development, said: “We know that lower-income households may find it harder to absorb increases in their daily expenses, especially if they have limited savings. We want them to know that help is available. That is why we have enhanced ComCare Interim Assistance and introduced the Temporary Supplementary Allowance to better support these households. These changes are over and above regular reviews to ComCare, which factor in latest price data and projected inflation.”