We may ask for your consent to manage and share your personal data across relevant organisations when you seek social services and assistance at the Social Service Offices (SSOs), the Family Service Centres (FSCs), the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies (DSSAs), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Destitute Support Services (Intake Centre and Social Investigation) and other relevant agencies.
What is data sharing and how will it benefit me?
By 'data sharing' we mean the disclosure of personal information between organisations or the sharing of data within an organisation – for example between the different departments of the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
Sharing your data with MSF allows us to facilitate the extension of social services and Government subsidies/assistance to you and your family.
There are many good reasons to share data and benefit you:
More accurate and faster access to assistance
Our staff at the SSOs, FSCs, DSSAs and ECDA will be able to better estimate and explain the amount of assistance and subsidy you may be eligible for. Our staff at the Intake Centre and the Social Investigation Services and staff from relevant agencies will be able to better understand your circumstance. This means they will be able to get a more comprehensive view of your information and assistance history and as a result make faster assessment to provide comprehensive, convenient and coordinated assistance.
Tailored advice on additional assistance
Staff at SSOs, FSCs, DSSAs, ECDA, Intake Centre and Social Investigation Services will be able to understand your needs and go beyond providing just their services to you. Some examples are when you request for additional assistance to waive your housing arrears with the Housing & Development Board, or when you need a referral for a Medical Social Worker.
Applying for healthcare financing schemes
Your consent for data sharing will also extend to healthcare financing schemes. If you require healthcare financing, the hospital staff will be able to explain to you how much of your bills will be covered by subsidies, MediShield and Medisave.
If I consent to data sharing, who will have access to my personal data, and how will it be used?
Only the Government, approved statutory boards and other participating organisations approved by the Government will be allowed access to your personal information on a need-to-know basis.
We ensure that the information you provide is kept strictly private and protected at all times. We do this by requiring all organisations that access your information to adhere to strict conditions of confidentiality and to set up stringent security measures and precautions to safeguard your personal data.
For example, staff providing only counselling services at any FSC, will only see basic information such as your name, age, address, and any social assistance that you are receiving. They shall not access information that is not required for counselling such as income data from CPF.
On the other hand, if you are applying for financial assistance at the SSO, staff will be able to obtain your income information from the CPF Board to determine if you qualify for assistance. They will not have access to detailed counselling notes prepared by FSC staff.
Who processes the information that is collected?
The table below shows how we will use the information that you share with us.
The list of agencies and services will be updated as we continue to enhance our services.
| Who will receive or use your data |
Purpose of data use and sharing |
Where we retrieve your data |
Type of data used and received |
| Staff at SSOs, FSCs1 , DSSAs2 processing your application for financial or social assistance |
To assess your eligibility for financial assistance for schemes such as ComCare Schemes, Interim Assistance Fund, Home Ownership Plus Education Programme, and FSC ComCare Financial Assistance
To better understand your situation and provide you with better advice
|
Agency for Integrated Care
|
Nursing home-related information |
|
Central Provident Fund Board
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
|
Income-related data such as CPF contribution and tax assessment, net trade income, declared income and property ownership |
| Early Childhood Development Agency |
Children's pre-school related information |
|
Family Justice Courts
Registry of Marriages
Registry of Muslim Marriages
Syariah Court
|
Marriage/Divorce records |
| Housing & Development Board |
Housing-related data such as arrears, housing type |
|
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore
Ministry of Home Affairs
|
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality, address, date of birth, date of death and long-term visit pass details |
| Land Transport Authority |
Vehicle ownership information |
| Ministry of Education |
Children's school-related information |
| Ministry of Health |
Recent medical expenses and basic care arrangements (only SSOs) |
| Ministry of Manpower |
Silver Support information, Self-employed person income relief scheme (SIRS) (only SSOs) |
National Council of Social Service
Organisations providing financial assistance, e.g. members of NCSS e.g. CDAC |
Social and financial assistance records |
| Singapore Prison Service |
Incarceration Records |
| Singapore Land Authority |
Asset Ownership |
| SP Group |
Utilities-related information |
| People's Association |
Social and financial assistance record |
| Other relevant public agencies providing COVID support/schemes |
Skillsfuture Singapore's SGunited programmes and schemes (only SSOs) |
| Staff at ECDA providing programmes under KidSTART |
To support vulnerable children through early access to health, learning and developmental opportunities.
To also manage referrals from other approved agencies. |
Divorce Support
Specialist Agencies
Family Service Centres
Social Service Offices |
Social and financial assistance records
Information which is necessary to assess need for services |
| Housing Development Board |
Housing-related data such as arrears, housing type |
| Immigration & Checkpoint Authority of Singapore |
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality, address, date of birth, date of death and long-term visit pass details |
| Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore |
Income-related data |
| Other relevant public agencies |
Information which is necessary to assess the need for services |
| Staff at WSG providing employment and training assistance |
To provide you with employment and training assistance to complement the SSO's financial assistance |
Social Service Offices
Other relevant public agencies |
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality, social and financial assistance records
Information which is necessary to assess the need for services |
| Staff and Medical Social Workers at approved healthcare institutions/Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) |
Please refer to
http://www.moh.gov.sg/datasharing |
| Staff at Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) providing care services and administration of financial assistance schemes |
To assist your eligibility and assist you in the application for the various CPF schemes |
Social Service Offices
Other relevant public agencies |
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality, social and financial assistance records
Information which is necessary to assess the need for services |
| Staff at Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) providing various CPF schemes |
To assess your eligibility and assist you in the application for the various CPF schemes |
| Staff at Housing Development Board (HDB) providing assistance for rental housing applications |
To assess your eligibility for rental housing to complement the SSO's financial assistance |
| Staff at Ministry of Education (MOE) managing financial assistance schemes and support for children in schools |
To assess your eligibility for financial assistance and provide support for vulnerable children in schools |
| Staff at Ministry of Manpower (MOM) processing Foreign Domestic Worker applications |
To assist you in the application of Foreign Domestic Workers |
| Staff at People's Association (PA) providing residents with information on available programmes and assistances |
To better understand your situation and provide you with better advice on the schemes available |
| Staff at Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) providing financial assistance schemes |
To access your eligibility for financial assistance schemes to complement SSO's financial assistance |
| Staff at Singapore Prison Service (SPS) providing re-integration and rehabilitation support |
To support inmates with rehabilitation and after-care programmes |
Why do I need to sign multiple forms?
Different forms are needed for different purposes.
For example, the consent form to collect, use and share data will enable the SSO social assistance officer, FSC/DSSA social worker, ECDA KidSTART officer, Intake Centre and Social Investigation officer and staff from relevant agencies to access the information we need to provide you with the service. It is designed to reduce inconvenience to you to give consent every time your information is required.
Other types of forms that you might be asked to sign include an authorisation form to record the session for purposes of coaching and social work supervision. This form needs to be signed to safeguard your privacy.
If I do not give my consent to data sharing, will my personal data remain protected?
If you have not given us consent to use your data for sharing, your personal data will not be disclosed. It will remain protected, unless consent has been given to us for sharing.
There are provisions within the Public Sector (Governance) Act, Personal Data Protection Act or Government Instructional Manual which allow personal information to be collected, used or disclosed under certain scenarios e.g. necessary to respond to an emergency, necessary for purpose that is clearly in the interest of the individual if consent cannot be collected in a timely way. We will exercise this carefully in safeguarding your privacy.
Who can I approach if I have queries?
If you are receiving assistance or services at the SSOs, FSCs, DSSAs, ECDA, Intake Centre and Social Investigation Services or other relevant agencies, you may approach their staff for more information on data sharing.
If you are receiving treatment at any public healthcare institution or Intermediate and Long-Term Care provider, you may also approach their staff for more information about data sharing.
For general queries, please email MSF_SS_Data@msf.gov.sg.
