Written Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo to PQ on applications received and approved for Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme
NOTICE PAPER NO. 2141 OF 2020 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 5 JUNE 2020
QUESTION NO. 3674 FOR ORAL ANSWER
MP: Mr Leon Perera
To ask the Minister for Manpower to date, how many applications from self-employed adults below the age of 37 under the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme have been received and how many of these applications have been successful.
Answer
- The Self-Employed Person (SEP) Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) helps Singaporean SEPs with less means and family support tide over this period of economic uncertainty.
- There is readily available information for auto-inclusion of SEPs aged 37 and above. The SEPs would have been previously assessed for eligibility under the Workfare Income Supplement scheme. This approach enabled over 100,000 SEPs to receive SIRS support without the need to apply for it.
- To ensure deserving SEPs aged below 37 receive SIRS support, we accept applications for SIRS through the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). So far, NTUC has received 20,500 applications from SEPs under the age of 37 that met the eligibility criteria and processed payments. A further 9,100 applications were incomplete and will be assessed for eligibility when applicants revert.