Nearly 600,000 people have applied for the Covid-19 Temporary Relief Fund (TRF). It offers a one-time $500 cash grant to Singapore’s low- and middle-income residents who have lost their jobs or earnings due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Nearly 4,000 of these applicants have since repaid the money they got.
On Monday (May 4), he replied to Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC) in Parliament. Although he didn’t say the reason of return of cash grant, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sam Tan responded it. His ministry is working closely with police to investigate fraudulent claims.
As of April 30 the ministry received 594,206 applications when applications for the grant were closed. The compensation fund is for citizens of Singapore who have lost their jobs or at least 30% of their personal income due to Covid-19, are not on ComCare assistance. And also, for those who have a monthly per capita income of $3,100 or less, or total monthly household income of up to $10,000.
There were others who found that their applications had received incorrect details. And then, those who opted to return the payment. It caused of they wanted it to go to those who needed it more.
The grant is followed by other Covid-19 assistance programs. It included the Covid-19 Help Grant and Self-Employed Individual Income Relief Program (Sirs) for the month of April. The key reasons for rejecting applications included applicants who did not meet the qualifying requirements of work loss. In addition, it caused of the loss of income or who met the criteria for qualified employment.
Individuals who want their cheques or payouts to be returned will do so by the end of May.
