General News
Disabled to get more help
By Carolyn Quek
TWO new initiatives will be rolled out to provide greater support for the disabled and their families.
To ease the burden on parents who have young disabled children, a $300 monthly subsidy will be given for each Singaporean child under the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC).
The programme, which helps handicapped or special needs children up to six years old, is aimed at increasing the developmental growth potential of the child and minimising the development of secondary disabilities. There are currently about 1,300 children enrolled in the programme, run by 11 centres.
Minister for Community Development Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, who announced the new initiatives in Parliament on Wednesday, said EIPIC services have been expanded since 2007. In addition to the subsidy, he said means-testing, introduced in 2006, will continue so that the less well-off will receive more. At the lowest tier, he said MCYS will fund up to $600 per child a month.
He added that MCYS will increase its funding for the programme, from $5.2 million last year to $7.1 million this year, while the Community Chest will also up its funding by 36 per cent to about $6.9 million this year. Total funding from the Government and Community Chest for EIPIC will rise to $14 million.
The minister also announced a new CPF scheme, called the Special Needs Savings Scheme, to encourage parents to save for their disabled children. Currently, the CPF savings of a member who passed away will be distributed to his or her nominees as a lump sum payout.
Additional Information
Country: Singapore
Website: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_500435.html
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Source: Email from: TSUCHIYA Michiko
When: 25/3/2010
