March 05, 2020, 07:50 PM
To ensure that student care remains affordable, the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) will be enhancing the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme.
This was announced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for MSF Faishal Ibrahim during the Committee of Supply debates on Mar. 5.
Up to S$60 more subsidies
The current median fee of MSF-registered student care centres is S$295, which is close to the 2015's median fee of S$290.
From July 1, 2020, MSF will be increasing the amount of subsidies under the SCFA scheme, especially to help lower-income families with school-going children aged between seven to 14 years old.
Under this scheme, eligible families will also receive up to S$60 more subsidies each month.
To help more families, MSF will also be broadening the income criteria. The qualifying monthly household income will increase from S$4,000 to S$4,500.
The per capita income will also increase from S$1,000 to S$1,125.
To benefit around 9,000 children
According to Faishal, these enhancements are expected to benefit around 9,000 children in Singapore.
This is the revised SCFA subsidy framework for the various monthly household income:
From MSF Committee of Supply 2020.
Improved funding and subsidy for special education students
MSF will also be improving the funding and subsidy support for families of students in Special Student Care Centres (SSCC).
SSCCs provide after-school care services and supervision for special education (SPED) students aged seven to 18 years old.
"They are particularly essential for caregivers who need to work or care for other dependents and themselves," said Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Sam Tan.
Support for caregivers
From July 1, 2020, the qualifying monthly household income for means-tested subsidies will increase from S$4,000 to S$9,200.
MSF will also lower the out-of-pocket expenses for SSCC services for most income groups, with reductions averaging between 30 per cent to 80 per cent.
Around 150 children with special needs and their families are expected to benefit from it this year.
Tan also mentioned that these enhancements will help to provide the "much needed" support and respite for caregivers of children with special needs.
Top image from MSF Singapore's Facebook page.
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