More Than 30% of People Who Apply for COVID-19 Support Grant Rejected for Various Reasons

In April this year, news of how people abused the Temporary Relief Fund, a one-time $500 help for people who suffered a pay cut due to COVID-19, went viral after someone purportedly claimed to have “cheated” for the funds but of course took back his words when his post got shared widely.

Now, how about the other support grant—the one that requires one to have a pay cut of at least three consecutive months?

Called the COVID-19 Support Grant, it’s a consistent payout for three months and depending on whether you’re retrenched or suffered a pay cut, you can get up to $800 per month.

To know more about the support grant, you might want to watch this video we’ve done (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos, please?):

In a nutshell, getting approved for this grant is a tad more difficult as there are more restrictions.

In fact, it’s so difficult that almost 1 in 3 applications weren’t successful.

More Than 30% of People Who Apply for COVID-19 Support Grant Rejected for Various Reasons

It turns out more than 30% of the applications weren’t successful.

Minister Masagos Zulkifli used to be Singapore’s discipline master; before the General Elections, he was the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, which is in charge of NEA. This meant he was the one speaking about how many people were caught not wearing masks lah, how many people were caught not following social distancing measures lah and more.

But after the GE, he’s now the Minister for Social and Family Development, and the ministry is in charge of the COVID-19 Support Grant, also known as CSG.

According to Minister Masagos, there have been about 115,000 applicants.

As of 16 August 2020, about 65,000 applications have been approved, while 41,000 applications were unsuccessful. 9,000 applications are still being processed.

Most of the applications have been rejected because the applicants did not meet the eligibility requirements, such as being retrenched or having had their salary cut by at least 30% for at least three consecutive months.

See lah, this is why everyone should subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos.

There are, however, other reasons, like employment-related details that could not be verified or for not meeting the household income criteria.

Appeal Successful

However, out of the 8,000 appeals for the grants, 7,500 were approved.

Minister Masagos said, “When considering these appeals, MSF would have taken into account any special circumstances that would warrant special consideration for individual cases.”

COVID-19 Support Grant

Based on the MSF website, the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Support Grant are as follows:

• Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 16 years and above.
• Full-time or part-time employees affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 situation (loss of job/income or start of involuntary no-pay leave should have occurred after 23 Jan 2020):
• Presently involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment/contract termination;
• Presently on involuntary NPL (No-Pay Leave) for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar – May 2020, Aug – Oct 2020); or
• Presently experiencing reduced monthly salary of at least 30% for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar – May 2020, Aug -Oct 2020);
• Prior gross monthly household income of ≤$10,000, or monthly per capita income of ≤$3,100
• Live in a property with annual value of ≤$21,000; and
• Not a current beneficiary of ComCare assistance, i.e. Long-Term Assistance, & Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance.(Note: ComCare clients currently receive comprehensive support, and will be assisted by SSOs if they require more assistance due to changes in their financial circumstances)
• Has not already received, or is currently not receiving the COVID-19 Support Grant or the Self-Employed Persons Income Relief Scheme (SIRS)
• Full-time National Servicemen and interns are not eligible

Also, recipients of the support grant must:

• Have been employed as a full-time or part-time permanent or contract staff prior to job/income loss; and
• Agree to actively participate in job search or attend a training programme under Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute.

Anyways, for the part about the property with annual value of less than $21,000, you just need to know that if you stay in an HDB, the value should be less than $21,000.

How to Apply for the Grant

You can apply for the grant online (9am to 6pm daily) till 31 December 2020, or call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000) to schedule an application slot at your nearest Social Service Office. The processing time takes about two weeks once you’ve submitted your supporting documents.

There are the documents required:

• NRIC
• Bank account number (for fund disbursement)
• Relevant documents indicating involuntary loss of job, being on involuntary NPL or reduction of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months; such as
  • Letter of retrenchment/termination of contract
  • Letter from employer stating being placed on involuntary NPL for at least three consecutive months
  • Letter from employer indicating loss of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months
• Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, before loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL, or loss of at least 30% of salary
• Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, after loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL or loss of at least 30% of salary

Let’s just hope you don’t need to apply, eh?