More financial help for Singapore's lower to middle-income workers

SINGAPOREAN and permanent resident workers hit by Covid-19 and still in financial hardships despite the help offered by the Budget relief measures introduced and the National Jobs Council's initiatives, can now receive more support under the Covid-19 Recovery Grant (CRG).

Rolled out by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the CRG is a financial grant targeted at helping lower to middle-income workers while they actively search for a new job or training opportunities, according to a MSF media statement.

Up to S$700 per month for three months will be given under the CRG to employees who were retrenched or whose work contracts were terminated by their employers; or who were put on involuntary no-pay leave for at least three straight months.

Up to S$500 per month for three months will be given to employees who are facing salary loss of at least 50 per cent on average for at least three consecutive months.

Self-employed Singaporeans facing an average loss in net trade income of at least 50 per cent, compared to their average monthly net trade income in 2019 and 2020, can also receive up to S$500 per month for three months.

"The job loss, involuntary no-pay leave or income loss should have occurred after Jan 23, 2020 - when the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Singapore - and must still be present at the point of application," the media statement said.

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It stressed that the CRG provides interim and targeted support to Singaporeans and permanent residents who are financially hit by Covid-19 and have less financial means and family support.

Applicants for the CRG must have a gross monthly household income of S$7,800 or below or monthly per capita income of S$2,600 or below prior to being hit by Covid-19.

"Under CRG, applicants must have been economically active prior to being affected by the economic impact of Covid-19," the media statement said. "Employees should have worked for at least six months cumulatively between Jan 19 and December 2020."

For the self-employed applicants, they should have declared their net trade income in either 2019 or 2020. Applicants who are dual-status workers - those who draw both salary as an employee and trade income as a self-employed - need to meet either criterion to be eligible.

Applicants must be facing income loss of at least 50 per cent on average for at least three straight months.

The grant application is opened online from Jan 18, 2021 to December, 2021 via go.gov.sg/CRG from 9am to 10pm daily (including weekends and public holidays). Those who need help completing the online application form can call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000) or email Ask- SSO@msf.gov.sg. Those unable to apply online can visit their nearest Social Service (go.gov.sg/ssolocator) for help.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Manpower and National Trades Union Congress have announced in a media statement that close to 200,000 self-employed persons have gained from the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme which provides quarterly cash payouts to the self-employed with less means and family support, and whose livelihoods have been affected by Covid-19.

To date, about S$1.8 billion has been paid out to support affected self-employed persons from April to December 2020, according to the statement.