Help for Low Income Seniors

Low-income seniors and their families can seek financial assistance through the Community Care Endowment Fund or ComCare. For seniors who can still work, but need some help to tide them over, there are ComCare schemes which help support their job search and through their difficult period.

There will be a small number of seniors who are unable to work, have no savings and have limited family support. For them, financial assistance is available through the Public Assistance (PA) Scheme under ComCare. In July 2008, the criteria for the PA Scheme was revised to allow seniors who are permanently unable to work and whose family members are also unable to provide adequate support, to be considered for PA.

From 1 April 2009, a senior living alone receives a monthly PA allowance of $360. Besides the allowance, he is eligible for free medical treatment and, if he is able to meet the eligibility criteria, subsidised HDB rental housing. Seniors under PA also enjoy extensive community support, such as befriending programmes, daily activities at senior activity centres, free meals, hong baos and cash allowance.

Seniors in need of urgent assistance can also approach their grassroos leaders or their nearest Community Club to ask about the Citizen’s Consultative Committee (CCC) ComCare Fund, which can be used to help needy residents who require temporary, urgent relief. The fund can be used to help needy residents either in cash or in kind..

Seniors who need financial help should approach their Community Development Council (CDC) at www.cdc.org.sg or call ComCare Call at 1800-222-0000