We will 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) and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
What is data sharing and how will it benefit me?
By ‘data sharing’ we mean the disclosure of data 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. This means they will be able to perform an informed assessment of your needs so you can achieve your desired outcomes.
Tailored advice on additional assistance
Staff at SSOs, FSCs, DSSAs and ECDA 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 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 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 and FSCs1 processing your application for financial assistance |
To assess your eligibility for financial assistance for schemes such as ComCare Schemes, Interim Assistance Fund, Home Ownership Plus Education Programme, FSC ComCare Financial Assistance, and School Pocket Money Fund |
Ministry of Home Affairs Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore |
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality,
address, date of birth, date of death |
| Housing & Development Board |
Housing related data such as arrears, housing type |
| Ministry of Education |
Children’s school-related information |
Central Provident Fund Board
Inland Revenue
Authority of Singapore |
Income related data such as CPF contribution and tax
assessment |
| Ministry of Health |
Recent medical expenses |
Registry of Marriages
Registry of Muslim Marriages
Family Justice Courts
Syariah Court |
Marriage / porce records |
| Early Childhood Development Agency |
Children’s pre-school related information |
| Agency for Integrated Care |
Nursing home related information |
National Council of Social Service
Organisations
providing financial assistance, e.g. SINDA |
Social and financial assistance records |
| Singapore Workforce Development Agency |
Employment and training related information |
Staff at FSCs and DSSAs[2]providing
counselling services and/or parenting programmes |
To better understand your situation and provide you
with better advice |
Social Service Offices
National Council of Social Service
Organisations
providing financial assistance, e.g. SINDA |
Social and financial assistance records
Information which is necessary to assess needs for services |
| 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. |
Social Service Offices
Family Service Centres
Divorce Support Specialist Agencies
National Council of Social Service
Other relevant public agencies |
Social and financial assistance records
information which is necessary to assess need for services |
Staff at WDA providing
employment and training assistance |
To provide you with employment and training assistance
to complement the SSO’s financial assistance |
Social Service Offices |
Administrative data such as NRIC, nationality
Social and financial
assistance records |
Staff and Medical Social
Workers at approved healthcare institutions/ Intermediate and Long Term Care
(ILTC) Providers |
Please refer to http://www.moh.gov.sg/datasharing. |
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 and ECDA KidSTART officer 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.
Who can I approach if I have queries?
If you are receiving assistance or services at the SSO, FSC, DSSA or ECDA, you may approach their staff for more information on data sharing.
If you are receiving treatment at any public healthcare institution or Immediate 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.