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Consent and Data Management

Topic(s): Social Service Professionals, Social Service Agencies & Partners, Residential & Shelter Support, Rehabilitation, Protection from Domestic Violence, Problem Gambling Assistance, Marriage Journey, Financial Assistance & Social Support, Disability Services, Children & Families

Why is consent required? 

When you apply for social services or assistance, we may need some information about you to process your application and provide the right support. Your consent lets us collect and use your personal data, and share it with other relevant agencies, when necessary, to provide the services you need. This helps us handle your application smoothly, serve you more efficiently, and ensure you don’t need to provide the same information more than once. 

Who can give consent?

Typically, everyone gives their own consent. However, if you’re helping your child (under 21 years old) or someone who cannot make decisions for themselves, you can give consent for them if you are their authorised representatives. Refer to the table below for more information.

How does sharing your data benefit you, and how is it protected?

To safeguard your personal data, all agencies that access your information follow strict confidentiality rules, and strong security measures are in place to keep your data safe. We will only share your information when it’s necessary or allowed by law.

In certain situations, the law (provisions within Public Sector (Governance) Act, Personal Data Protection Act or Government Instructional Manual) allows personal information to be collected, used or shared without consent, for example:

  • To respond quickly in an emergency
  • When it is clearly in your best interest and we can’t get consent in time  

We will exercise this carefully to ensure your personal data stays protected. 

If you provide consent, who will have access to your personal data, and how will it be used? 

Only Singapore Public Agencies and Participating Organisations will be allowed access to your personal data on a need-to-know1 basis.

1Agencies can only access relevant information when they have a valid use case and require it for their specific duties. 

 

Who will have access to your personal data?
CategoryDescription / Examples
a) Singapore Public Agencies

Includes (a) the Government, including any Ministry, Department, Agency, or Organ of State, (b) any tribunal appointed under any written law, and (c) any statutory body, but excludes a Town Council established under section 4 of the Town Councils Act 1988.

Examples of Singapore Public Agencies

  • Staff at CPFB providing various CPF schemes
  • Staff at HDB providing assistance for rental housing applications
  • Staff at MOM processing Foreign Domestic Worker applications
b) Participating Organisations

An organisation that has received authorisation from a Singapore Public Agency to deliver government services or schemes. These organisations can be:

(i) Government-funded Non-Government Entities (NGEs) that have been authorised to manage and provide government programmes

(ii) NGEs that do not receive government funding but are authorised to administer government-funded services and schemes

(iii) NGEs that have entered into a formal contractual agreement with a Singapore Public Agency to deliver specific services

Examples of Participating Organisations

  • Staff at Family Service Centres (FSCs) and FAM@FSC processing your application for financial or social assistance
  • Staff at ECDA and KidSTART providing support to vulnerable children through early access to health, learning and developmental opportunities
  • Staff at SG Enable providing support for persons with disabilities, and their caregivers through various disability services
  • Staff and Medical Social Workers at approved healthcare institutions/Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC)
  • Staff under HOMES Participating Agencies (https://go.gov.sg/homes-schemes) administering the various public schemes

Please note that this list is non-exhaustive and may be updated from time to time as we continue to enhance our services.

Examples of the various types of personal data that may be accessed, on a need-to-know basis
Type of data used and received
(need-to-know basis)		Examples
Where we may retrieve your data
Common use(s) of data
Housing-related dataArrears, housing typeHDB
  • To assess your eligibility and provide you and your family with the financial, social and/or healthcare support required
  • To verify the identity and relationship of you and your family, for the services or schemes you apply for
  • To provide and process the services or schemes you and your family applied for
  • To better understand your situation and provide you with tailored advice
  • Coordinate inter-agency referrals and case management

Note: Please refer to the OneMSF Omnibus consent form for the full definition of Services or Scheme. 

Administrative data NRIC, nationality, address, date of birth, date of death, Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) details ICA
MHA
Marriage/divorce records Marital status, name of spouse FJC
ROM
ROMM
SYC
Recent medical expenses and basic arrangements Hospital bills, medication costs MOH 
Income-related data CPF contribution, tax assessment, net trade income, declared income and property ownership CPFB
IRAS
Please note that this list is non-exhaustive and may be updated from time to time as we continue to enhance our services.

 

 

Who can you approach if you have queries?

Your service location How to get help
Social Service Touchpoints (e.g. SSOs, FSCs1, FAM@FSC2, ECDA, Intake Centre and Social Investigation Services or other relevant agencies)
 
[1] Find a Family Service Centre (FSC) near you  
[2] Find Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centre (FAM@FSC) and related programmes near you 		If you’re receiving assistance or services from any of our social service touchpoints, you may speak with your caseworker or social worker to learn more about how your data is shared and handled. 
Public healthcare/Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) providers If you’re receiving treatment at a public healthcare institution or an ILTC provider, you may speak with your care team to learn more about how your data is shared and handled.

For any other questions about consent or data management, you may submit them through our query form.