Recently, a friend of mine experienced the passing of a loved one who was also the breadwinner of the family. It is extremely tough emotionally to cope with the loss. At the same time, to prepare for life moving forward financially. I looked up some financial aid schemes and found the following. Hopefully, this will help families transition into their new family planning with some ease.
MOE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Singaporean students have access to a variety of financial assistance programs provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to help cover school fees and other educational expenses. These programs are available to students attending:
- Government and government-aided schools
- Specialised schools
- Independent schools
- Certain specialised independent schools, such as NUS High School of Mathematics and Science and the School of Science and Technology
- Government-funded special education schools
- Post-secondary institutions, including the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics, autonomous universities, and arts institutions
Additionally, other schools and institutes, like MOE Kindergarten, School of the Arts, and the Singapore Sports School, offer their financial support schemes. The specific financial assistance your child can apply for will depend on the type of school or institution they are enrolled in. To apply for any of these schemes, click here.
COMCARE
Supports lower-income households with basic living expenses, including school fees. There are several forms of assistance as follows:
- Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA)
Short-term assistance for low-income families and individuals who are unable to work temporarily (such as due to illness or caregiving duties), are seeking employment, or have low earnings and need help to cover essential living expenses. To apply, click here.
2. Long-Term Assistance (LTA)
Offers long-term assistance to individuals who are permanently unable to work due to old age, illness, or disability and lack sufficient family support or savings to meet their daily needs. To apply, click here.
3. Interim Assistance
Emergency financial support for individuals and families needing urgent, short-term relief. To apply, click here.
4. Student Care Fee Assistance
5. Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)
Assistance to offset kindergarten fees for Singaporean children. To apply, click here.
6. Child Care Financial Assistance
Assistance to reduce preschool costs for Singaporean children. To apply, click here.
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSIST SCHEME
All Singapore Citizens qualify for CHAS, with greater healthcare subsidies provided to lower- and middle-income households. The level of benefits depends on the household’s monthly income per person (for those with an income) or the Annual Value (AV) of the home listed on the NRIC (for those without an income).
Please be aware that your and your family member’s eligibility for CHAS will be evaluated based on income and other personal data from government databases. The details submitted in this form may affect your and/or your household members’ eligibility for other government healthcare programs, such as MediShield Life premium subsidies, disability assistance, and more.
Benefits
Households can use this application to apply for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), which provides subsidies at participating CHAS GP and dental clinics.
Required Information
To complete this application, you will need:
- A valid Singpass to log in to the e-Service.
- The names, NRIC / Birth Certificate / FIN numbers, and contact numbers of all household members.
Refer to the CHAS online application user guide. To apply, click here.
If you come across other schemes available for families in need, please share them in the comment box below. Thanks for sharing in advance!
