2025年2月18日，新加坡社會及家庭發展部高級政務次長蔡瑞隆在國會口頭答覆楊厝港單選區議員葉漢榮有關發放社區關懷援助金前評估申請人的財務狀況的問題。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
9 葉漢榮（楊厝港單選區議員）詢問社會及家庭發展部長，鑒於近期發生申請人虛報收入資產不當獲取社會關懷援助金（ComCare）事件：
(a) 資金髮放前，如何全面評估申請人財務狀況？
(b) 續期申請的受助人，是否有定期覆核期經濟狀況？
(c) 除自行申報外，還採用哪些核查方式？
(d) 過去五年中，發生了多少起類似案件，是否已追回所有錯誤支付？
蔡瑞隆（社會及家庭發展部高級政務次長，代表部長）：議長先生，社區關懷援助金（ComCare）源自公共財政，必須確保精準投放，只有符合條件的人才能獲得援助。
為評估申請人的財務狀況，社會與家庭發展部將在徵得申請人同意後，從政府機構獲取相關的後台信息，如申請人的就業狀況、收入水平和擁有的資產。對於其他政府機構無法提供的財務信息，申請人需要提供證明文件並自行申報，例如申請人在新加坡和海外所有銀行帳戶中的存款數額。
如果客戶希望續簽 ComCare 援助，則必須重新提出申請，並提供最新的聲明。如果 ComCare 受助人在領取 ComCare 期間財務狀況發生變化，例如出售資產獲得收益，他們還必須向社會服務辦公室（SSO）提供最新信息。
在考慮申請人的儲蓄以確定其是否符合領取 ComCare 的資格時，社會及家庭發展部（MSF）會考慮各種因素，如用於緊急支出的應急儲蓄和家庭規模。沒有硬性門檻，特別服務辦公室將根據每個申請人的情況和需要靈活處理。如果積蓄數額較大，即使是來自公眾的捐款，我們也希望申請人先動用自己的積蓄。
在過去五年中，共有 25 起客戶因銀行帳戶儲蓄申報不準確而錯誤領取 ComCare 的案例。在適當情況下，社會及家庭發展部（MSF）已採取追討行動。如果經評估客戶的行為屬於欺詐，社會及家庭發展部（MSF）將向警方報案進行調查。
無論是否向警方報案，我們都會採取步驟追討任何錯誤的付款。社會及家庭發展部（MSF）對虛假申報持嚴肅態度，因為 ComCare計劃旨在為那些有需要且沒有其他支助來源的人提供支助。持有大量積蓄的受助人並不符合社區關懷計劃的申請資格，而動用公共財政去資助那些有能力自行應付基本生活開支的人士，是不公平的做法。
議長：有請葉漢榮議員補充質詢。
葉漢榮（楊厝港集選區議員）：謝謝議長。感謝高級政務次長的回應。我有兩個簡短的補充問題。鑒於確保社區關懷援助金的可及性與防止援助金被濫用之間的緊張關係，社會及家庭發展部可否解釋如何平衡審核效率與資金安全？如何避免誤傷真實需求者？
蔡瑞隆（社會及家庭發展部高級政務次長，代表部長）： 議長先生，多謝這位議員提出的補充問題。我會一併處理。議長先生，這位議員把提供援助的過程形容為一個平衡的過程，是正確的，這個平衡主要是根據申請人經評估後的需要，以最快捷的方式，為申請人提供最適當的資助額。另一方面，由於使用的是公款，因此要保持健康的審慎態度，同時還要承擔責任。
我們在一線工作的官員，也就是社會服務辦公室的官員非常清楚，隨著時間的推移，申請人的經濟狀況可能會發生變化，因此，他們會在一段時間內定期檢查每個申請人的情況；與此同時，他們也會確保堅持快捷和問責的原則。我深信，我們的公職人員會根據這些原則，為他們收到的每一份申請盡最大努力。
以下是英文質詢內容：
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.
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