Over 7,000 applications received so far for Covid-19 Recovery Grant: Masagos

SINGAPORE — More than 7,000 applications had been received for the Covid-19 Recovery Grant as of Wednesday (Jan 20), Mr Masagos Zulkifli said.

The Minister of Social and Family Development also said that online applications for the grant end on Dec 31 this year and “there is no need to rush”.

Applications opened on Monday for the grant, which provides temporary financial assistance to employees and self-employed persons whose incomes have been significantly affected by the pandemic.

Volunteers have been stepping up to support grant operations and in a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Masagos said that he was “heartened to see this strong community spirit (of) Singaporeans helping to uplift one another, to tide us through this crisis”. 

His ministry will continue to support Singaporeans to overcome challenges in this pandemic, he wrote.

First announced on Dec 16 last year, the new grant is different from both the Covid-19 Support Grant and the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (Sirs).

Applications for the Covid-19 Support Grant and Sirs had closed at the end of last year.

HOW NEW GRANT PROVIDES RELIEF 

• For three months, up to S$700 will be provided monthly to workers who have been retrenched, terminated or placed on involuntary no-pay leave for at least three consecutive months

• For three months, up to S$500 will be provided monthly to workers whose incomes have been cut by at least 50 per cent for at least three consecutive months

• This is also help for self-employed individuals who lost an average of 50 per cent in income for at least three consecutive months, compared with their average monthly income in 2019 or 2020

• Applicants' job or income losses must have occurred after Jan 23 last year — the day the first Covid-19 case was detected in Singapore

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT

• Applicants must have a gross monthly household income of S$7,800 or less, or a monthly per capita income of S$2,600 or less, before being affected by the crisis

• Applicants must be economically active and have worked for at least six months cumulatively between January 2019 and December 2020, before being hit by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic

• Applicants must have had their income cut by at least 50 per cent

• Applicants must not own more than one property and must live in one with an annual value of less than S$21,000

• Applicants must show that they have been looking for jobs or applying for skills training programmes through government portals, attending job interviews or taking part in career coaching at government-linked career centres

• Applicants cannot be concurrently receiving support through ComCare assistance programmes or SGUnited relief packages

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT 

• Until Dec 31 this year, individuals may apply online at go.gov.sg/CRG from 9am to 10pm every day

• Applicants should prepare supporting documents such as bank statements

• Those who are not able to apply online may visit their nearest Social Service Office under the Ministry of Social and Family Development