Written Answer to PQ on Silver Support per capita household income eligibility criterion

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2541 OF 2024 FOR THE SITTING ON 5 FEBRUARY 2024
QUESTION NO. 5684 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Lim Biow Chuan

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether household income can be removed as an eligibility criterion for the Silver Support Scheme so that an applicant does not have to move out from his child's home to be eligible for the scheme.

Answer:

1. The Silver Support Scheme is targeted at seniors who had lower incomes during their working years and now have little or no family support in their retirement. It is not meant to be a universal support scheme. The household monthly income per person is indicative of the level of household support and remains a relevant consideration in ensuring the Silver Support Scheme is targeted at seniors who need it the most.

2. We review the Silver Support Scheme regularly. The scheme was last enhanced in 2021, when we raised the qualifying threshold for the household monthly income per person from $1,100 to $1,800. This enabled more seniors, some of whom do live together with their children, to qualify for Silver Support.

3. As announced by PM Lee at National Day Rally 2023, the Government will be making another round of enhancements to the Silver Support Scheme. Taken together with the Majulah Package and upcoming enhancements to the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme and Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, these measures will help seniors to meet their basic retirement needs, with greater support going to lower- and middle-income Singaporeans. More details will be announced at this year’s Budget and Committee of Supply debate.