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Written answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on minimum years of citizenship as additional qualifying criterion for Silver Support Scheme

Employment practices
Notice Paper No. 299 Of 2016 For The Sitting On 15 Aug 2016
Question No. 189 For Written Answer

MP: Ms Cheng Li Hui

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider imposing the criterion that in order to qualify for the Silver Support Scheme, eligible Singaporeans must have been citizens for at least a certain number of years.

Answer
  1. The Silver Support Scheme is the latest addition to our social safety net. It provides a cash supplement to the bottom 20% of Singaporeans aged 65 and above, who had low wages through life and who currently have little or no family support.

  2. The Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) is the only scheme that considers the year in which an individual becomes a citizen. This criterion is relevant because the PGP is meant to honour and thank all members of the first generation of Singaporeans who contributed to Singapore’s nation-building. It included all pioneers, irrespective of their means.

  3. The Silver Support Scheme on the other hand, like all other social assistance schemes, provides targeted support to Singaporeans who require additional help, regardless of their length of citizenship. Such schemes have various eligibility criteria in place to help ensure that the support is channelled to the intended beneficiaries.