Earlier on April 6, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the government will be enhancing the previously-announced Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) as part of the Solidarity Budget.

Eligible self-employed people will receive three payments of S$3,000 each in May, July and October 2020.

After the enhancement, about 100,000 self-employed people will automatically qualify for the scheme.

For those who do not automatically qualify, you can apply or make an appeal online starting from April 27.

Who qualifies for the income relief scheme? Who can appeal?

In a recent Facebook post, the Secretary-General of NTUC, Ng Chee Meng shares the list of criteria for a self-employed person to be automatically qualified for SIRS:

The following groups of self-employed persons can apply for the SIRS from April 27:

1. Meet all the eligibility criteria and are aged 37 (as at Dec. 31, 2020) and above but did not declare Net Trade Income for Work Year 2018; or
2. Meet all the eligibility criteria but are aged 21 to 36 as at Dec. 31, 2020; or

Those who have marginally missed one of the eligibility criteria and are facing difficult circumstances now may also submit an application to NTUC for consideration.

Documents needed for online application

Ng reminded applicants to get ready their SingPass login details and necessary documents for the application process.

Different documents are required from self-employed persons, depending on the circumstances of each individual:

You can access the application portal for SIRS here.

Other forms of help for union members

In the video, Ng spoke to four self-employed people via teleconference and answered some of their questions on the application of SIRS.

On top of that, Ng also mentioned two additional measures to help NTUC members — the NTUC Care Fund and NTUC Training Fund.

He said that the government is aiming to deliver the first tranche of payment to eligible self-employed persons by the end of May.

Ng added that NTUC will support self-employed people and all workers in Singapore to tide through this difficult period.

You can watch his video here: