Fortitude Budget: Another S$800m set aside for Covid-19 Support Grant

ANOTHER S$800 million will be set aside for the existing Covid-19 Support Grant, as part of the Fortitude Budget that was presented in Parliament on Tuesday.

The grant provides up to S$800 per month for three months to Singaporeans or permanent residents who have lost their jobs or been placed on involuntary no-pay leave due to the Covid-19 crisis, and up to S$500 per month for three months to those who had a significant salary reduction.

In the three weeks since the grant started, about 46,000 applications have been received, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Its precursor, the Temporary Relief Fund that was available in April, provided 450,000 individuals with one-off cash assistance of S$500 each.

There is also the Self-Employed Person Income Relief scheme, under which more than 100,000 self-employed persons will be receiving their first payout of S$3,000 this week. Self-employed persons who do not automatically qualify may apply to the National Trades Union Congress, which has received over 60,000 such applications so far. Applicants can expect to hear back within a month of applying.