450,000 eligible for Pioneer Generation Package

SINGAPORE — About 450,000 older Singaporeans will be eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the Pioneer Generation tribute at the Istana this morning (Feb 9).

Citizens born in 1949 and earlier and who received their citizenship by Dec 31, 1986 will qualify, and they will be informed in due course.

These include Singaporeans who were living and working here after Independence. Those 65 or older by the end of this year were about 16 years or older at Independence. In the 1960s, people often started working in their late teens, Mr Lee said.

The criteria will also include the Republic’s first batch of National Servicemen, who were called up in 1967.

The package will include more MediShield subsidies, more subsidies for outpatient treatment and annual top-ups to Medisave.

Details will be announced during the Budget session in Parliament on Feb 21.

Mr Lee said older Singaporeans who do not meet the criteria for the package will be taken care of in other ways that will enable them to look after themselves and their families.

About 1,000 seniors, including former top sprinter C Kunalan and Cultural Medallion awardee Edwin Thumboo, attended the tribute.

Correction: The original article stated that citizens born from 1949 will be eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package. This is incorrect. It is citizens born in 1949 and before who will be eligible for the package. This article was edited at 12.35 pm on Feb 9, 2014.