Singapore: Three residents from Jurong GRC came together to present a petition to Member of Parliament Xie Yao Quan on 16 December 2024, urging the government to strengthen the social safety nets for vulnerable members of their community.
In a discussion with We Support Us Singapore, a group dedicated to fighting poverty, the residents shared their personal experiences of how their neighbours, particularly the elderly, are struggling in the face of financial hardship.
One resident explained that her decision to sign the petition was driven by a need for more government support, especially to address the financial difficulties faced by families like hers.
She also expressed concern for elderly neighbours who live alone and may die without anyone knowing, as many seniors are too fearful to seek help from the government.
A second resident highlighted the difficulties elderly people face when trying to access support services.
Many elderly citizens, particularly those with limited mobility, must travel to the Social Service Office (SSO) at Jurong East for assistance, which can be a significant burden.
He suggested that SSO officers should be sent to elderly residents’ homes to assess their financial situations and offer assistance, such as monthly financial support and food supplies, to ensure their well-being.
A third resident spoke about the often-overlooked struggles of single individuals or those with complicated life situations.
She pointed out that people often assume that being single means having fewer burdens, but this view neglects the realities of individuals who are estranged from their families or have criminal records.
She noted that these people need government support to help them rebuild their lives.
@wesupportus.sg 3 neighbours came together to deliver a petition for better social safety nets to their MP. From struggling with rising cost of living to caring for their elderly neighbours — this is why they spoke up. Follow us to see how their conversation with their MP went! #EndPoverty #WeSupportUs #SingaporeVoices #fyp #FYPsg #DontLeaveUsBehind #rentalflat
Petition Highlights Issues with Social Safety Nets
The petition raises concerns about the adequacy of Singapore’s social safety nets, particularly in medical, food, and financial assistance.
Despite Singapore’s status as a prosperous economy worth more than S$400 billion, over 100,000 Singaporeans earn less than S$1,300 a month.
In addition, one in ten households experiences food insecurity at least once a year.
Medical Safety Nets: A System That Fails the Needy
The petition highlights the struggles faced by individuals when accessing medical care, particularly those with limited financial resources.
Singaporeans rely on schemes like Medisave, Medishield, Medifund, and CHAS for support, but many are excluded due to reasons such as work or residential status.
Some are denied assistance because they are not deemed “poor enough,” despite experiencing financial hardship.
The petition underscores the fact that untreated medical issues can worsen, leading to higher costs in the future and contributing to the accumulation of debt.
Moreover, low-income immigrants face additional barriers, such as refusal of treatment due to their visa status, forcing them to pay higher bills without subsidies.
According to the petition, Medifund, the ‘last-resort’ safety net, holds sufficient funds to meet the healthcare needs of struggling families, yet it remains underutilized.
Food Safety Nets: The Strain of Rising Costs
The petition stresses the critical connection between poverty, nutrition, and health, calling for greater regulation of the milk industry and increased support for mothers.
While the government encourages breastfeeding, not all mothers are able to do so due to health issues or work-care gaps.
As the cost of living continues to rise, many families are forced to rely on cheap, unhealthy food options, which negatively impact their health.
The rising Goods and Services Tax (GST) further exacerbates the situation, making it even harder for low-income families to afford nutritious food.
The petition calls for the affordability of milk formulae for all families, arguing that it is unfair for companies to profit from the basic needs of infants and mothers.
Financial Safety Nets: A Bureaucratic and Ineffective System
The petition also addresses the shortcomings of Singapore’s financial safety nets, particularly the challenges faced by individuals seeking assistance from the Social Service Office (SSO).
Many individuals fear the judgment they may face when seeking help, as the process is often intrusive and demeaning.
The petition argues that the eligibility criteria for financial assistance through COMCARE are unclear and that many households in dire need of help receive little to no support.
Despite the COMCARE fund being worth over S$2.4 billion, the petition points out that only a small percentage of this fund is used to support families in need, and assistance is typically provided for very short periods.
The petition advocates for the untapped potential of the COMCARE fund to be used more effectively.
Demands for Reform
The petitioners have outlined several key demands to address issues within Singapore’s social safety nets.
They call for a universal minimum living wage of S$2,000 per month for full-time workers and S$15 per hour for part-time workers to reduce poverty.
The petition also calls for halting further GST hikes and implementing a 2% wealth tax on individuals with net wealth over S$100 million.
To support families, the petition requests that parents be allowed to use their Child Development Accounts for milk formula purchases and that essential goods like milk formula, rice, and oil be price-controlled.
It also demands an increase in U-SAVE rebates, with monthly distribution, to match rising energy costs, and the cancellation of energy, rental, and medical debts for low-income residents unable to pay.
The petition advocates for higher COMCARE disbursements to match the minimum standard of living, currently set at S$1,600 per person for working-age households, and a reduction in the waiting period for assistance applications.
It also calls for the extension of Short-to-Medium Term COMCARE support to six months and greater transparency in decision-making, with the introduction of a living standards calculator to determine eligibility.
Further, it demands flexibility in eligibility criteria to prevent people from falling through the cracks if family members are unwilling or unable to provide financial support.
The petition also calls for formal channels to appeal COMCARE and Medifund decisions, as well as ensuring all patients, regardless of immigration status, receive treatment before paying.
Additionally, the petition seeks to make General Practitioner Clinics more accessible and demands that rental flat estates be equipped with funds to improve accessibility for seniors and disabled persons.
The petition urges MPs to raise these concerns in Parliament, pushing for stronger social safety nets to better support Singapore’s most vulnerable citizens.
Given the recent motion passed in the Singapore Parliament on helping families, the rejection of Progress Singapore Party’s call to reimagine social policies feels like a punchline in a cruel joke.
So, while the PAP insists that the ‘reimagination ship’ has already left port, it seems they’ve forgotten to check if it’s headed in the right direction—or if it’s just circling the harbour while families onboard are left wondering if real change is a mirage on the horizon.
