More ComCare applicants a cause for cheer and concern, say MPs

SINGAPORE — The rejection rate for the ComCare short-to-medium-term assistance scheme has been dipping over the past few years, while the number of applicants for the scheme has seen a steady climb in the same period. But while Members of Parliament (MPs) say these are good signs, they told TODAY that the growth in applicants signals more fundamental problems.

The number of successful applicants for ComCare rose from about 14,000 in 2009 to about 22,000 last year. This was accompanied by a rise in the number of applicants, from about 29,000 in 2009 to about 33,000 last year, according to a written parliamentary reply on Feb 17.

In response to TODAY’s queries, a spokesman from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the approval rate rose from less than 50 per cent in 2009 to 65 per cent last year. He credited increased outreach efforts — such as the distribution of information kits to frontline service staff of social service agencies and leaders of grassroots organisations, as well as the launch of a ComCare information hotline — as a reason for this increase. At the same time, income criteria was tweaked to allow more families to qualify for assistance.

The MSF said it has also exercised a lighter hand in their assessment processes, with their officers seeking to understand and assess the specific and unique needs of families. Last December, close to 200 people received help through ComCare, even though they exceeded the income criteria.

Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) MP Zainal Sapari suggested that the increase in applicants may suggest underlying issues that are not addressed through such schemes. There could be obstacles to becoming more self-reliant, a deterioration of family support and an inability to secure a job that pays wages high enough to support a family, he noted.

He said the Government needs to re-examine fundamental assumptions that a person must have no or little family support before being eligible for ComCare schemes. He also called for a review of the income criteria to see if income caps can be raised, saying there must be a basis at arriving at this income criteria.

Moulmein-Kallang GRC Member of Parliament Denise Phua said the main test of whether ComCare works is not in the number of successful applications. “The main test is whether the target group who really needs help knows where to get help, and obtains the right configuration of support — money, appropriate job, healthcare, school expenses — to ... get out of the poverty spiral.”

She added that it is easier to approve ComCare applications for those who are “obviously poor”.

“The challenge is always cases that are not so obvious — for example, elderly applicants who explain that they do not wish to disturb their adult children for support as they have ‘families of their own’, or applicants who have accumulated large arrears due to overspending or gambling or applicants who prefer not to work even if they are able-bodied.” Such cases require more information, but there is not always resources to handle every case, she added.

Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Lily Neo said the general sense on the ground is that residents do know they can get help if they have difficulty. “The only problem I perceive is we don’t have enough collaboration and sharing of information between stakeholders,” she said, adding that this may lead to an overlap of assistance or an incomplete picture of how much residents truly require help.

She cited an example of a resident who had approached her describing great financial difficulties, but Dr Neo found out later that the resident had already received financial help from other schemes.

Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng said while he sees that awareness of such schemes is quite high and growing yearly, outreach efforts should be a never-ending process. To him, the setting up of 20 social service offices — which will administer ComCare assistance beyond the current five Community Development Councils — is a good step in the right direction.

But while an increase in the take-up rate for assistance schemes is not to be frowned at, a balance needs to be struck to prevent abuse, said MPs. “There is always a danger of engendering an attitude of dependence should the aid given disincentivise them from trying to be more self-reliant,” said Mr Zainal.

But Mr Seah said that he typically prefers to err on the side of generosity. “We may be taken advantage of, but I prefer to assume that they will use it for the right reasons.”