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Data Management and Sharing

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


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

MSF-Data Management Info Icons


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

Footnote
[1] The list of FSCs includes the following Family Service Centres
@27 Family Service Centre, Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre, AWWA Family Service Centre, Care Corner Family Service Centre (Admiralty), Care Corner Family Service Centre (Queenstown), Care Corner Family Service Centre (Tampines), Care Corner Family Service Centre (Toa Payoh), Care Corner Family Service Centre (Woodlands), Cheng San Family Service Centre, Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Bukit Batok), Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Choa Chu Kang), Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Yew Tee), Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Champions Way), Fei Yue Family Services at SSO@Taman Jurong, Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre, Kampong Kapor Family Service Centre, Kreta Ayer Family Services at SSO@Kreta Ayer, Lakeside Family Centre (Jurong East), Lakeside Family Centre (Jurong West), Marine Parade Family Service Centre, MWS Covenant Family Service Centre (Hougang), MWS Family Service Centre (Yishun), MWS Family Service Centre (Tampines), Pasir Ris Family Service Centre, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS) Family Service Centre (East), PPIS Family Service Centre (West), Punggol Family Service Centre, REACH Family Service Centre, Rotary Family Service Centre, Sembawang Family Service Centre, Sengkang Family Service Centre, Serangoon Moral Family Service Centre, Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) Family Service Centre, Singapore Children’s Society Family Service Centre (Yishun), South Central Community Family Service Centre, The SBL Vision Family Service Centre, Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Family Service Centre Bedok North, THK Family Service Centre Bukit Panjang, THK Family Service Centre Jurong, THK Family Service Centre MacPherson, THK Family Service Centre Tanjong Pagar, TRANS Family Service Centre (Bedok), TRANS Family Service Centre (Bedok Reservoir), TRANS Family Service Centre (Bukit Timah), Viriya Family Service Centre, Whampoa Family Service Centre, Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre
[2] The list of DSSAs includes the following Divorce Support Specialist Agencies
AMKFSC - Thrive Parenting Care Corner Centre for Co-Parenting, HealingHearts @ Feiyue, HELP Family Service Centre, PPIS As-Salaam Family Support Centreand Thye Hua Kwan Centre for Family Harmony




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.