2025年2月18日，新加坡社会及家庭发展部高级政务次长蔡瑞隆在国会口头答复杨厝港单选区议员叶汉荣有关发放社区关怀援助金前评估申请人的财务状况的问题。
以下内容为新加坡眼根据国会英文资料翻译整理：
9 叶汉荣（杨厝港单选区议员）询问社会及家庭发展部长，鉴于近期发生申请人虚报收入资产不当获取社会关怀援助金（ComCare）事件：
(a) 资金发放前，如何全面评估申请人财务状况？
(b) 续期申请的受助人，是否有定期复核期经济状况？
(c) 除自行申报外，还采用哪些核查方式？
(d) 过去五年中，发生了多少起类似案件，是否已追回所有错误支付？
蔡瑞隆（社会及家庭发展部高级政务次长，代表部长）：议长先生，社区关怀援助金（ComCare）源自公共财政，必须确保精准投放，只有符合条件的人才能获得援助。
为评估申请人的财务状况，社会与家庭发展部将在征得申请人同意后，从政府机构获取相关的后台信息，如申请人的就业状况、收入水平和拥有的资产。对于其他政府机构无法提供的财务信息，申请人需要提供证明文件并自行申报，例如申请人在新加坡和海外所有银行账户中的存款数额。
如果客户希望续签 ComCare 援助，则必须重新提出申请，并提供最新的声明。如果 ComCare 受助人在领取 ComCare 期间财务状况发生变化，例如出售资产获得收益，他们还必须向社会服务办公室（SSO）提供最新信息。
在考虑申请人的储蓄以确定其是否符合领取 ComCare 的资格时，社会及家庭发展部（MSF）会考虑各种因素，如用于紧急支出的应急储蓄和家庭规模。没有硬性门槛，特别服务办公室将根据每个申请人的情况和需要灵活处理。如果积蓄数额较大，即使是来自公众的捐款，我们也希望申请人先动用自己的积蓄。
在过去五年中，共有 25 起客户因银行账户储蓄申报不准确而错误领取 ComCare 的案例。在适当情况下，社会及家庭发展部（MSF）已采取追讨行动。如果经评估客户的行为属于欺诈，社会及家庭发展部（MSF）将向警方报案进行调查。
无论是否向警方报案，我们都会采取步骤追讨任何错误的付款。社会及家庭发展部（MSF）对虚假申报持严肃态度，因为 ComCare计划旨在为那些有需要且没有其他支助来源的人提供支助。持有大量积蓄的受助人并不符合社区关怀计划的申请资格，而动用公共财政去资助那些有能力自行应付基本生活开支的人士，是不公平的做法。
议长：有请叶汉荣议员补充质询。
叶汉荣（杨厝港集选区议员）：谢谢议长。感谢高级政务次长的回应。我有两个简短的补充问题。鉴于确保社区关怀援助金的可及性与防止援助金被滥用之间的紧张关系，社会及家庭发展部可否解释如何平衡审核效率与资金安全？如何避免误伤真实需求者？
蔡瑞隆（社会及家庭发展部高级政务次长，代表部长）： 议长先生，多谢这位议员提出的补充问题。我会一并处理。议长先生，这位议员把提供援助的过程形容为一个平衡的过程，是正确的，这个平衡主要是根据申请人经评估后的需要，以最快捷的方式，为申请人提供最适当的资助额。另一方面，由于使用的是公款，因此要保持健康的审慎态度，同时还要承担责任。
我们在一线工作的官员，也就是社会服务办公室的官员非常清楚，随着时间的推移，申请人的经济状况可能会发生变化，因此，他们会在一段时间内定期检查每个申请人的情况；与此同时，他们也会确保坚持快捷和问责的原则。我深信，我们的公职人员会根据这些原则，为他们收到的每一份申请尽最大努力。
以下是英文质询内容：
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development with regard to the recent case of wrongfully obtained ComCare payments due to improper declaration of income and assets (a) how does the Ministry comprehensively assess an applicant's financial situation before disbursing funds; (b) whether the Ministry conducts regular follow-up checks on the financial situation of recipients applying for renewal; (c) besides self-declaration, what other verification methods are being employed; and (d) over the past five years, how many similar cases have occurred and have all erroneous disbursements been recovered.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Mr Eric Chua) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Sir, ComCare financial assistance is paid out from the ComCare Fund, which is funded from public monies. As such, it is important that the assistance is only given to those who qualify.
To assess an applicant's financial situation, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will, with the applicant's consent, obtain relevant information backend from Government agencies, such as the applicant's employment status, income level and assets owned. For financial information that is not available from other Government agencies, the applicant is required to furnish the supporting documents and make self-declarations, such as the amount of savings an applicant has in all bank accounts in Singapore and overseas.
For clients seeking to renew ComCare assistance, a fresh application must be made and an up-to-date declaration is required. ComCare clients are also required to update the Social Service Office (SSO) should their financial situation change while they are receiving ComCare – for example, if they receive proceeds from the sale of an asset.
In considering an applicant's savings to determine eligibility for ComCare, MSF takes into account factors, such as contingency savings for emergency expenses and household size. There is no hard threshold and SSOs will exercise flexibility based on each applicants' circumstances and needs. If the savings are substantial, even if it comprised donations from the public, we would expect the applicant to tap on his or her savings first.
Over the last five years, there were a total of 25 cases where clients wrongfully received ComCare due to inaccurate declarations on their bank account savings. Recovery action has been taken in appropriate cases. If it is assessed that the client's actions are fraudulent, MSF will report the case to the Police for investigation.
Regardless of whether the case is reported to the Police, we will take steps to recover any erroneous disbursements. MSF takes a serious view on false declarations as ComCare schemes are meant to support those who are in need and have no other sources of support. Clients who hold significant savings do not meet the ComCare eligibility criteria and it would not be fair to use public funds to support those who are able to meet basic living expenses on their own.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his response. I have two short supplementary questions. Given the tension between ensuring accessibility and guarding against misuse of funds, could the Ministry explain how it balances the need for swift disbursement of ComCare funds, with the implementation of stringent checks to prevent wrongful claims? And what measures are in place to ensure that legitimate applicants are not inadvertently disadvantaged by these processes.
Mr Eric Chua: Sir, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. I will take them together. Sir, the Member is right to describe the process of extending financial assistance as a process of balance – a balance essentially between getting the most appropriate financial assistance, in terms of quantum, to an applicant based on his or her assessed need in the most expedient manner. And on the other end, maintaining a healthy level of prudence and at the same time, accountability, because public funds are being used.
Our officers at the frontline, at the SSOs are well aware that, over time, the applicants' financial situation might change and therefore, will check in periodically with each applicant over time; and at the same time, ensuring that the principles of expedience and accountability are upheld. I am confident that our public officers at the SSOs do the best for each application that they receive, based on these principles.
CF丨翻译
Alex丨编审
新加坡国会丨来源丨图源
