Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how are functions of ComLink Family Coaches differentiated from Family Service Centre social workers in supporting low-income families; and (b) what systems are in place to (i) prevent duplication, (ii) streamline referrals, and (iii) ensure coordinated case management.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The roles of family coaches from the Social Service Offices (SSOs) and case workers from Family Service Centres (FSCs) are clearly differentiated.

FSCs support vulnerable individuals and families with higher needs and risks, such as family conflict and emotional issues. For families that are also eligible for ComLink+, FSC case workers also act as family coaches, but will prioritise addressing these needs and risks before providing other support available under ComLink+. Conversely, should families supported by SSO family coaches develop higher needs and risks, they will be referred to FSCs to address both their higher needs and risks, and also progress under ComLink+.

When the families' conflicts or emotional issues have been sufficiently addressed such that they no longer require support from FSCs, they are transferred from FSCs to SSOs. There, the family coaches continue to work with them on their goals

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) for the three latest reporting years, what are the (i) total number of beneficiaries aged 65 and above receiving ComCare Long-Term Assistance (LTA) and Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) respectively and (ii) percentage these seniors represent within the total pool of ComCare recipients for each scheme; and (b) what percentage of current Silver Support Scheme recipients are concurrently receiving ComCare LTA or SMTA.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Based on the ComCare Trends Report FY2018 to FY2022, the number and proportion of ComCare Long-Term Assistance (LTA) beneficiaries aged 65 and above were 3,400 (81% of all LTA beneficiaries) in FY2020, 3,300 (81%) in FY2021, and 3,200 (82%) in FY2022. For ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA), the respective figures were 7,500 (9% of all SMTA beneficiaries) in FY2020, 7,300 (10%) in FY2021, and 5,500 (9%) in FY2022. The Ministry of Social and Family Development stopped computing the number and proportion from FY2023, as the figures have remained stable and are of limited analytical use. 

Data on the proportion of Silver Support Scheme recipients that concurrently receive ComCare LTA or SMTA are not available. 

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the standard protocol for ComLink+ family coaches to contact disengaged households before they are deemed uncontactable; (b) as at December 2025, how many families remained uncontactable after three, six, nine, and 12 months; and (c) what measures do Social Service Offices and community partners implement to monitor the wellbeing of vulnerable children in these persistently uncontactable households.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Approximately 10% of families engaged remain unresponsive to us, although we have tried to contact them at least a few times through various means such as calls, texts or home visits.

The Social Service Offices (SSOs) collaborate with community partners like schools, grassroots organisations, hospitals and Social Service Agencies, who may have established better rapport with these families, to facilitate engagement of the family including the children (if any).

Where there are concerns with potential abuse or domestic violence, Family Service Centres can invoke powers under the Children and Young Persons Act or Women's Charter to compel access to the children. The Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF's) Protective Service may also be engaged to assess the case and determine the appropriate intervention.

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Chairman, while Budget 2026 rightly strengthens support for ComLink+ families, the effectiveness of this support relies entirely on successful engagement. In my interactions with families, I have observed recurring challengea: families who remain uncooperative or deeply disengaged. This is often driven by the exhaustion of juggling multiple commitments, personal crisis or a lack of trust in the cobbling system.

This lack of engagement creates a critical blind spot. It makes it difficult for family coaches to assess genuine needs, maintain continuity of care, or escalate cases where serious concerns, such as family violence or child safety may be involved. When engagement is inconsistent, the human touch and the trust built by a dedicated coach are easily lost.

We must recognise that unresponsiveness itself is often a signal of deeper and more complex challenges. We cannot allow these families, especially their children, to fall through the cracks.

I have two clarifications on this front. 

First, what specific protocols for engaging within the ComLink+ Alliance Working Group and its partner agencies to re-engage families who have become unresponsive?

Second, would the Ministry consider a formal escalation pathway for such cases to Family Service Centres for deeper social work intervention when initial coaching efforts fail to gain traction? Ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in these households must remain our absolute priority.

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim) (Excerpt): Chairman, several Members, such as Mr Xie Yao Quan, Mr Melvin Yong, Ms Mariam Jaafar and Mr Cai Yinzhou, have raised concerns about improving social mobility. This has always been an area of focus for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

As we saw in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Occasional Paper last month, Singapore has done relatively well in this area compared to other advanced economies. However, like in other advanced economies, pressures are likely to persist or even intensify. Hence, MSF will redouble our efforts to enhance social mobility.

MSF's goal is to support lower-income families to progressively achieve the "3S" outcomes: stability, self-reliance and ultimately, social mobility. We are going beyond social assistance to social empowerment by supporting our families through three things. 

First, a safety net. When families fall on hard times, we provide a safety net through immediate support. Second, a steadying hand. MSF provides a boost so families can get back on their feet and take the next step forward. Third, a supported ladder. MSF supports families with opportunities to grow their own resources. Such opportunities, when harnessed, will allow families to reach, grab the next rung and pull themselves up. In this way, MSF empowers families to succeed by overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities and most importantly, doing so with dignity.

This is what drives ComLink+. 

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim) (Excerpt): As noted by Mr Cai Yinzhou, some families may be hesitant to get on board ComLink+. Together with these enhancements, family coaches will step up efforts to reach out to families by working closely with Government agencies and community partners in their support system. 

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Chair. I would like to ask how would MSF evaluate project success of progress packages launched? I thank the Minister of State for sharing that families can enjoy community events and attraction tickets at discount, but these activities still require supervision. Money is scarce and time is even more. Are there any other initiatives with supervision that can be formalised across neighbourhoods, such as the Touch Young Arrows Children's programme?

My second question is that I understand ComLink+ families become FSC cases during crisis and family coaches take a step back. Will the Ministry consider allowing family coaches to continue journeying with the families on the context that in times of crisis, more hands-on-deck is needed, and trust and relationship built with coaches can be more pertinent in these moments?

Third question, has the Ministry explored grants to support caregivers with entrepreneurial endeavours with PwDs that they are caring for initiatives, such as Junlefont and Bakes by Ben? They are both started by caregivers with children with special needs, and they continue to provide and allow the children to be meaningfully engaged, yet allowing income generation and flexibility.

Lastly, riding on Member Denise's points to reduce wait time in the pressure valve of DACs, has the Ministry considered pilot integrating Senior Care Centres and DAC for adults, since DAC residents are getting older, and I have also been a care staff in both settings, and care needs of toileting, feeding and cognitive engagement are similar in objectives. A pilot integration could help the pressure valve queue of an average of six months.

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: Thank you, Chairman. I will address the first few questions and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua will cover the rest.

Member asked about the effectiveness of ComLink+ and our evaluation of the success. We continuously monitor ComLink+ and we receive feedback from families that we serve and of course, from the family coaches themselves, the SSOs and FSCs. Bearing in mind that ComLink+ was only launched in the middle of 2023, and if one looks at the MSF release paper in 2025 "Supporting Lower Income Household Trends", that report showed positive signs in some domains, like employment and housing, compared to the year before, experienced by families who had been enrolled in ComLink+.

Children in ComLink+ Progress Package also had higher enrolment and attendance rates, compared to the children who were not emplaced. But we continually want to do more. Hence, the enhancements to the ComLink+ Progress Packages were made, and these were made based on the feedback from the ComLink+ families and ground practitioners as well. We understand that some families may find it difficult, as I have mentioned in my speech, to meet some of these conditions despite their best efforts, so we are actually working with the families and the family coaches themselves on how to encourage the families to achieve those milestones.

In terms of tracking, we are also working with academics to study the impact of the packages on the families' short- and long-term outcomes. I also referenced that in my speech that we will continually finetune our approach as we have learned more insights.

On the local efforts, these are complementary to our programs already in MSF. Families may take advantage of all the programmes in the community. Family coaches also themselves connect our ComLink+ families and their children to such activities. For instance, in Choa Chu Kang and Keat Hong where I serve, we have specific programmes during the holidays for music and pharmaceutical visits for lower-income families.

But MSF also will be looking towards working and understanding the best practices all across Singapore, across towns and try to implement programs at the local level. And I do encourage all Members in this Chamber, if Members have partners on the ground, do come up with innovative programmes to engage our low-income families and their children.

Lastly, on the FSCs, Member asked on the situation when the case is referred to the FSC, whether the family coach can continue journeying with the family, he said "all hands-on-deck" would help. However, this only typically happens when there is a crisis that happens to the family, like domestic violence, there is a divorce. So, in that situation, the priority would always be to stabilise the families. So, achieving milestones, such as employment, may be the furthest thing on their minds.

However, the FSC caseworker will double up and serve like the family coach to the ComLink+ family, so do not worry, for those families that require family services and need more help, and the Family Service Centre caseworker will focus on these more urgent risk issues and prioritise that. And they will also build rapport with the family and, hopefully, build trust, and this also allows one caseworker to be the main touchpoint for each family, and integrate the different support in the community for that family, so that again, the navigational nightmare would be avoided and they have one touchpoint.

Link to Hansard: Source 1 (Mr Cai Yinzhou Cuts) and Source 2 (Replies from Ministry & Clarifications)

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development given global uncertainties and sustained cost-of-living pressures on low-income families, (a) whether the income eligibility thresholds for financial assistance schemes will be reviewed to ensure they remain adequate; and (b) whether ComCare short-to-medium-term assistance quantum is periodically benchmarked against core inflation and if not, whether Ministry will consider doing so.

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The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) reviews the ComCare per capita household income benchmark regularly. The current gross monthly per capita household income benchmark of $800 and below is an indicative benchmark and not a qualifying criterion. Families who are above the benchmark but have valid needs may still be assisted with ComCare on a case-by-case basis.

The ComCare assistance rates are also regularly adjusted to ensure adequate support. The ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term assistance quantum accounts for projected inflation.

For cost-of-living concerns, there is also support in other forms, such as the Assurance Package, which has been enhanced with additional cash, U-Save, service and conservancy charge rebates, and Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers over the years.

MSF is monitoring the situation closely on how the low-income families are being impacted by the current economic situations and conditions. We are prepared to make adjustments as needed.

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question is similar to the $200 cash disbursement for platform workers to cushion rising fuel prices. Can we also consider some immediate stopgap disbursement for ComCare recipients, especially those with young children who have very little buffers to begin with?

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Our reviews take into consideration data on expenditure for basic living needs, projected inflation and also views from social service professionals who work closely with our low-income families. The benchmark itself is not a criterion that automatically qualifies or disqualifies a household from ComCare. It approximates a gross monthly income at which households may qualify for assistance. 

As mentioned in yesterday's clarification by my colleague, Minister of State Goh Pei Ming yesterday during the Ministerial Statement relating to the Middle East conflict, it was clarified that the ComCare assistance rates were reviewed only a year ago and MSF had already factored in some inflation assumptions so that the threshold is still within the buffer.

Besides this, there are also other general support and measures announced yesterday as well to provide enhanced support for Singaporean families, not just the lower-income households. For example, CDC vouchers of $500 will be brought forward to June 2026. The Cost-of-Living Special Payment has also been enhanced, and eligible Singaporeans can receive up to $400 to $600 in September 2026. For families who are on ComLink+, they are also eligible for the enhanced payout measures that have already been announced in this year's Budget and Committee of Supply.

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will consider (i) reviewing the rationale for excluding families receiving ComCare assistance from the ComLink+ Package for Debt Clearance and (ii) extending this package to families receiving ComCare assistance with appropriate safeguards.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) helps individuals and families who face temporary setbacks and need help with basic living expenses.

ComLink+ families receiving ComCare SMTA have still not attained financial stability. Such families are, therefore, unlikely to be in a position to pay off their debts. To support these families, family coaches will work with them to secure employment or higher paying jobs first to ensure that they are financially stable and no longer require ComCare SMTA. These families then have the capacity to start saving part of their monthly income, after meeting their monthly expenses. For those with debts, the ComLink+ Progress Package for Debt Clearance can assist them to clear their debts faster.

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has assessed barriers faced by low-income families in the deputyship process under the Mental Capacity Act, including legal costs, medical report requirements and the simplified track's consent requirement; (b) what proportion of deputyship applications were assisted by the Legal Aid Bureau in each of the past three years; and (c) what steps are being taken to improve access.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Currently, an application for deputyship under the simplified track costs around $540, comprising a $40 Court filing fee and around $500 for mental capacity assessment, depending on the fees charged by public hospitals.

Lower-income families requiring financial assistance with the deputyship application may approach the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB), a department in the Ministry of Law, or charitable organisations, such as Pro Bono SG. From 2023 to 2025, the LAB provided legal advice and aid to about 750 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents for matters related to the Mental Capacity Act, including but not limited to deputyship applications.

In 2025, the Ministry of Law also amended the Legal Aid and Advice Act to apply the legal aid means test on the mentally incapacitated person when an altruistic non-next-of-kin deputy applies for deputyship. This will allow more cases to qualify for assistance by LAB.

The best way to avoid the hassle and cost of a deputyship application is to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). We recently made the LPA Form 1 application permanently free for Citizens and encourage everyone to make an LPA as soon as possible. 

Link to Hansard: Link