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New fare discounts for low-wage workers, those with disabilities

SINGAPORE — People with disabilities will pay less than a dollar for each trip on basic bus and train services, while public transport fares for low-wage workers will be 15 per cent cheaper under new concession schemes, announced the Ministry of Transport (MOT) yesterday.

SINGAPORE — People with disabilities will pay less than a dollar for each trip on basic bus and train services, while public transport fares for low-wage workers will be 15 per cent cheaper under new concession schemes, announced the Ministry of Transport (MOT) yesterday.

The schemes, which were proposed by the Fare Mechanism Review Committee and accepted by the Government last November, will cost the latter S$50 million a year.

About 50,000 people with disabilities and 400,000 low-wage workers will benefit from the schemes, said the MOT.

These individuals will be issued special concession cards which they can tap on card readers on buses and at train stations to enjoy discounted fares. They will be notified by post of their eligibility before the fare hikes — announced yesterday — kick in on April 6.

However, time will be needed to activate the concession passes which can be used from July 6, said the MOT.

People with disabilities and low-wage employees who are eligible will be issued transport vouchers worth S$80 and S$30 respectively to offset their travel expenses between April and July.

Individuals have to be in the database of SG Enable — an agency which supports people with disabilities — in order to qualify for the concession scheme for this group.

Those who are not in the database can apply to join by going to a medical practitioner to get certified with one of five permanent disabilities — physical disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability. More details will be announced next month.

Low-income employees who received the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) last December and are below the age of 60 will qualify for the new concession scheme for this group.

The concession will last for a year and will be subject to review based on individuals’ eligibility for WIS.

Those who are eligible for WIS after July 6 can apply for the concession cards after they receive their WIS payments.

Ms Yvonne Chan, a 48-year-old single mother of two, earns about S$900 a month as a retail assistant. She makes up to four bus trips a day to take her son to school and to travel to work. On average, the trips cost her about S$3 a day.

“(The concession scheme) will help my family, but I wish it was a bigger discount,” she said.

Temasek Polytechnic student Victor Wong, 21, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. He spends at least S$50 a week on public transport.

With the new concession on fares, his grandparents, who pay for his transport expenses, could save about S$150 a month, he said.

Mr Wong added that, in particular, wheelchair users would benefit as some of them might have to take costlier fixed routes because not all buses are accessible to them.

“The concessions are good enough as there is only so much the Government can do without other commuters having to bear a price,” he said.

Society for the Physically Disabled Executive Director Abhimanyau Pal said: “This move will help encourage integration of people with disabilities into our society.”

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