REACH (Telegram) 43 - What are your views on the findings of the report? What else can be done to better support lower-income families?

(SK)

20 Nov 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 9:45 AM]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 9:52 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a report released on Tuesday (Nov 19) that fewer households received financial assistance through ComCare, a scheme which supports lower-income households with basic living expenses, in 2023 compared with the previous year.

MSF attributed these dips to post-COVID-19 economic recovery, labour market expansion in recent years, and support from other government schemes. However, the report also noted that education and housing continue to be an issue for families under ComLink+, a scheme introduced in 2023 that gives low-income families financial incentives and other support if they work towards improving their lives.

💬 What are your views on the findings of the report? What else can be done to better support lower-income families?

📌Downward trend in Comcare Financial assistance

According to the report, the number of homes supported by Short-to-medium term assistance (SMTA) decreased from 27,392 in 2022 to 22,960 in 2023. The amount of money disbursed through SMTA also fell from a peak of S$169.7 million in 2020 to S$105.1 million in 2023. There was also a drop in households supported by Long-Term-Assistance from 3,857 in 2022 to 3,479 in 2023 with the total amount disbursed also falling from $28.5 million in 2020 to $23 million in 2023. 

📌Monthly Cash Aid

The report said that families that returned to getting help from the SMTA more than once are more likely to have more dependants, family members who are medically unfit to work, or live in one- and two-room HDB rental flats. Regular reviews are conducted to ensure ComCare coverage remains adequate. The median monthly amount of cash assistance through SMTA disbursed per beneficiary in assisted households increased by $20 to $370 from 2022 to 2023, and up by $70 since 2019. MSF also said that the amount of cash assistance provided is customised to each household’s composition, needs, and income.

📌Challenges with Education and Housing

Data collected by MSF from 9,153 ComLink+ families living in public rental housing showed that as of December 2023, more than 60 per cent of them had been employed for six consecutive months or more.

Almost seven out of 10 families were not on financial assistance and just above half of them saw real income growth. However, only 26 per cent of the Comlink+ families with preschool-aged children in anchor operator (AOP) preschools had their kids achieve an average monthly attendance rate of 75 per cent or higher and 93 per cent of them had yet to buy a flat and move out of public rental housing.

👉https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/comcare-comlink-msf-financial-assistance-lower-income-4755056

👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/smaller-share-of-lower-income-families-received-temporary-financial-aid-again-msf-report?_gl=1*weaocv*_gcl_au*MTk0NzMwNjMzOS4xNzMyMDYxOTcw

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REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 10:56 AM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the findings of the report? What else can be done to better support lower-income families?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Thank you!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 11:03 AM]

[ Poll : I feel that the current support schemes adequately meet the needs of lower-income families. Please share the reason for your answer in the chats! ]

- Agree

- Neutral 

- Disagree 

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 12:08 PM]

Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls📊 and share your opinion💭. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

Thank you.

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 1:03 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the findings of the report? What else can be done to better support lower-income families?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 1:03 PM]

Steven Ong, [20/11/2024 1:37 PM]

IMO, while it seems like a good sign that lesser people need help, we also have to ask ourselves if there're people who may slip thru the safety net due to admin or other issues..

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:03 PM]

1. Noticed that most if not all ComCare assistance are focus on household living in rental flats.

2. However, I come across some household living in 1 room flats or 2 rooms that are facing problem for eg. elderly of 80+ in 1 room flat that are immobilised and need caregiver to go toilet, bathing, changing cloth, feeding etc.

The caregiver is 60 plus who need to resign from her part time job to take care of her and lose the only income they have.

After failing the caregiving course, need to send her to nursing home, but the caregiver unable to find job.

The caregiver struggle to foot the bill of nursing home and have sufficient income to buy food and pay essential.

3. Hence, I feel that ComCare should extend to household living in 1 room to 2 room flat (non-rental) to help such household tie over their financial difficulties.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:12 PM]

1. However our priniciples of social welfare financial assistance should actively look out for household that need helps to tie over their financial difficulties - regardless of whether they live in rental flats or owned flats.

2. But the principle must always be "Give them fishing rods to fish, instead of feeding them fish all the times", so that they can tie over temporary difficulties while helping them to find jobs to eventually feed themselves and their family members.

3. This will ensure that our Society are not burden by social welfare mindset and prevent people from laying back - and rely on States to feed them.

This will not be good for the State, unfair to taxpayers and heavily burden the Society.

4. But household with difficulties must be given a "leg-up" to help them to tie over their difficulties, and help them to find their "fishing rod" so that with the needed skillsets, help them to help themselves - and alleviate the States and taxpayers from the burden of huge social welfare bills.

5. Every household can then live with dignity, as they have the means to make a living for themselves and their families - and become a useful member of the Society.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:19 PM]

1. Notice that there are no visible beggars on the street that beg for money. Or homeless people sleeping overnight in the public.

This is a good sign that chronic low income people are not prevalent in our Society.

2. However, do see and come across quite a number of elderly and disabilities selling tissues at MRT or outside shopping malls or along the tunnels towards MRT stations or at hawker centres.

3. So maybe more efforts are needed to find out are they doing it to spend time and earn pocket money or they are genuine in financial difficulties that need help.

4. Can they be tapped to work in alternative jobs that are facing labour shortages.

Kim Heok Lim, [20/11/2024 3:29 PM]

Problem is some don’t know where to seek help

Jun Ming, [20/11/2024 3:31 PM]

Some embarrassed to get help

Jun Ming, [20/11/2024 3:32 PM]

Some resulted doing crime as they might not be eligible for help. Or the help is not enough

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:32 PM]

Hence social welfare officers should be more active on the street to engage the elderlies and the disabled at the MRT, hawker centres and shopping malls.

They are always there and visible.

I engage in talk with one elderly selling tissue.

He told me "business not very good" and then I don't see him anymore.

He must have shifted to other places to sell his tissues.

And my bags full of tissues after accumulated for months.

Jun Ming, [20/11/2024 3:34 PM]

Sometimes I pity those selling tissues. They sell at such a high price where not many people will buy them

Jun Ming, [20/11/2024 3:36 PM]

Sometimes you need to see their necessity spending and their income

Jun Ming, [20/11/2024 3:37 PM]

Even with the help the fishing rod can be still fragile where cost of living is so high

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:46 PM]

I think GST vouchers need to be a permanent feature.

And CDC vouchers need to be given if budget permit.

Cost of living next year is no joke.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:47 PM]

Because Trump is going to implement all his campaign inflationary measures with the appointment of unorthodox cabinet choices.

The measures will be ferocious.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:49 PM]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/trumps-choice-of-china-hawks-signal-rough-seas-ahead-for-sino-us-ties

Trump’s choice of China hawks signals rough seas ahead for Sino-US ties.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:49 PM]

Look like 60% tariffs on China is not just a verbal threat.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:51 PM]

"Authoritarianism Expert Delivers Chilling Assessment On Trump Cabinet Picks".

Taken together, these appointments suggest an attempt to actually make the American government dysfunctional, to make it fall apart, to pervert it, to have it do things that it’s not supposed to do until it’s not capable of doing anything at all.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/timothy-snyder-donald-trump-cabinet-picks_n_673b1205e4b0ebe12e36af09#:~:text=at%20any%20time-,Authoritarianism%20Expert%20Delivers%20Chilling%20Assessment%20On%20Trump%20Cabinet%20Picks,-Lee%20Moran

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:52 PM]

Sit tight and brace ourselves for uncertainties for the next 4 years.

Inflation are unlikely to come down and could spike.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 3:58 PM]

"Vivek Ramaswamy Pledges To ‘Delete’ Entire Government Agencies Alongside Elon Musk"

 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vivek-ramaswamy-elon-musk-delete-government-agencies_n_673a5d9de4b0ebe12e367050#:~:text=at%20any%20time-,Vivek%20Ramaswamy%20Pledges%20To%20%E2%80%98Delete%E2%80%99%20Entire%20Government%20Agencies%20Alongside%20Elon%20Musk,-Jazmin%20Tolliver

Khai Mun L., [20/11/2024 4:01 PM]

Giving unrestricted subsidies to everyone is a slippery slope. One of the reasons why US inflation is high because of money given out during covid.

Encouraging companies to setup in Singapore and having stable government and policies bring in jobs for people. In a stable job, income can be earned, which is better than being jobless.

Whether is fair wage or enough to sustain lifestyle, that is another matter.

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 4:01 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:11 PM]

1. In a society, priorities is to create high value high income jobs by attracting high value investment to create such jobs - so that our people are trained to helm such jobs and can sustain themselves their families.

2. But there are others who are retirees, caregivers, children, disabled / elderlies that are home bound - and have no means to look for jobs to feed themselves.

It is these groups of people that GST vouchers, CDC vouchers that will be helpful to help them.

3. The inflation that we are facing todayy and next few years are not restricted to Singapore or domestic in nature.

It is external and global driven - due to geopolitical rivalry, wars, decoupling and many adverse external factors that drive up prices.

Food that are essential - and impact all the strate of our population - no-income, low-income, middle-income and high income are real.

4. Hence Government stepping in to help to cushion the unprecedented inflation is needed.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:11 PM]

Debt-saddled Laos struggles to tame rampant inflation - double digit inflation.                                                                                                 Global inflation hitting many Countries.                                                                                                                 https://sg.yahoo.com/news/debt-saddled-laos-struggles-tame-030428151.html

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:12 PM]

"Middle-class Indians tighten their purse strings amid spiralling inflation". Food prices 10.87%, vegetables price 42.18%.

Food sticky prices inflation hit India. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/middle-class-indians-tighten-their-purse-strings-amid-spiralling-inflation#:~:text=Middle%2Dclass%20Indians%20tighten%20their%20purse%20strings%20amid%20spiralling%20inflation

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:19 PM]

1 The global inflation is unprecedented - and is a global phenomenon - not a domestic phenomenon.

2. And Singapore imports most of our foods and goods from overseas countries - resulted in imported inflation.

3. We have to adopt various measures to tame imported inflation - 1st and foremost is to make our currency strong (but may impact our export competitiveness).

4. Hence there is a limit to currency manipulation and make it too strong through monetary policy.

5. Fiscal policy need to step in to help - specifically through GST vouchers and CDC vouchers to cushioon and lob-off the inflation rate - and make prices of good and services affordable to our common population.

6. While ensuring our working population earn higher income to cover the inflation.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:22 PM]

7. Ensuring our Economy do well and grow our GDP is a sure way to ensure high income jobs and profitable business, so that our Government revenue and budget will be strong.

This is the best way to keep inflation manageable.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:30 PM]

Global fight against inflation 'almost won' but risks are rising: IMF

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/22/global-fight-against-inflation-almost-won-but-risks-are-rising-imf.html

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:31 PM]

India’s central bank chief warns over growing global inflation risks

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/14/indias-central-bank-chief-warns-over-growing-global-inflation-risks.html

xXx.SCAR.xXx, [20/11/2024 4:31 PM]

I wonder what is our risk exposure to India...

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:32 PM]

India up and coming superpower economy.

Alot of opportunities.

But also quite bureaucratic.

Need our local diaspora Indians to find niches and business opportunities for Singapore.

Just like we need diaspora local Chinese to find niches and business opportunities in China.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:37 PM]

A Budget for all as S’pore tackles immediate cost-of-living challenges, invests in longer-term goals | The Straits Times

Projections by the Finance Ministry in 2023 assessed that government spending would increase to around 20 per cent of GDP by 2030.

DPM Wong said that for now, that remains the Government’s assessment.

Assuming the Government stays within this range of spending increase, it should have sufficient revenues to maintain a balanced budget over the coming years, he added.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2024-tackles-immediate-challenges-for-households-sets-longer-term-goals-for-economy-and-workers

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 4:39 PM]

Our Budget revenue sufficient to provide GST vouchers and CDC vouchers - without needing to dig into our reserves or incur debts to finance the GST vouchers and CDC vouchers to fight the next few years of inflation.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 5:21 PM]

"*Japan and China* Dump US Treasuries Before Trump’s Victory.

Investors from Japan offloaded record amount of US bonds in 3Q.

Both nations may continue to sell US debt: AT Global Markets" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-19/two-of-america-s-biggest-debt-holders-are-dumping-treasuries#:~:text=Japan%20and%20China,AT%20Global%20Markets

G, [20/11/2024 5:48 PM]

Why keep spending taxpayer money to scheme here scheme there? 

What's being done to lower costs of living such that such schemes are not required?

G, [20/11/2024 5:50 PM]

Coming up with new schemes maintaining schemes also cost tax payer money

What is the ratio of spending for scheme creation and upkeep vs actual disbursement to whoever the schemes are targeting?

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 6:02 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 6:46 PM]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 6:46 PM]

1. Feel that the mainstream media such as CNA news, Straits Times and the various Chinese, Malay and Indian media - should write more articles periodically on how Economics are run, how Geopolitical development impact Economics to educate common man in the street.

2. This will help our population understand why Government policies are formulated to meet economic goals, social goals and political goals.

3. Among the topics to be communicated should be :-

a. Planned Economy versus Market Economy

b. MicroEconomics and MacroEconomics

c. What is Montary Policy and Fiscal Policy - the functions of these 2 policies to steer the Economy and foster Economic Growth - such as Interest Rate, Exchange rate, various type of taxes, welfare scheme and program.

d. The functions of Circular Flow of Income and the Multiplier Effects - specifially Government Spendings, Business Investment, Consumption, Trade - Exports and Imports.

e. The mechanics of Trade, Balace of Payment, Balance of Trade etc

f. Money Supply, Inflation - Domestic & Global etc.

- to cover the above topics and not limited to.

4. Only then, Population will be able to better appreciate why the government needs to formulate and push certain government policies. This will facilitate more meaningful, better and more insightful discussion in the public forum.

LCL (Danny 心), [20/11/2024 6:49 PM]

1. The coming next 4 years will be an inflexion point, whereby external development will be unprecedented - and defy many Economic logic - that can throw global economic development into disarray and push many economies into unchartered water.

2. Understand how the Economy operates - will help population understand why Government will need to push out certain policies to cushion the external effects - to keep our Economy on an even keel - and not let them rock our Economic boats and development - that impact the day to day lives of our people.

REACH Singapore, [20/11/2024 6:59 PM]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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