What is COVID-19 Support Grant ?
The COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) aims to help Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs), aged 16 years and above, who are
- presently involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment, or
- contract termination, or
- are placed on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL)
for
- at least 3 consecutive months or
- are experiencing at least 30% loss of salary for at least 3 consecutive months,
as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19.
Applications are open from May till 31 December 2020.
COVID-19 Support Grant Extension
The COVID-19 Support Grant was introduced earlier in May to help Singaporeans who are unemployed or suffered significant income loss. The grant will now be extended to December 2020.
- From October 2020, both existing recipients and new applicants can apply for the grant.
- Unemployed applicants must demonstrate job search or training efforts to qualify.
COVID-19 Support Grant Eligibility Criteria (from 1 Oct 2020)
The Covid-19 Support Grant is open to:
a) First-time applicants who fulfil the eligibility criteria; and
b) [From 1 Oct 2020] Individuals who are currently receiving or have received CSG support, and fulfil the revised eligibility criteria after their CSG support has ended. They can apply for an additional three months of CSG support.
The revised eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Support Grant, which take effect from 1 Oct 2020, are as follows:
- Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 16 years and above.
- Full-time or part-time employees affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 situation (loss of job/income or start of involuntary no-pay leave should have occurred after 23 Jan 2020):
- Presently involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment/contract termination;
- Presently on involuntary NPL for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar – May 2020, Aug – Oct 2020); or
- Presently experiencing reduced monthly salary of at least 30% for a period of at least three consecutive months (e.g. Mar – May 2020, Aug -Oct 2020);
- Prior gross monthly household income of ≤$10,000, or monthly per capita income of ≤$3,100;
- Live in a property with annual value of ≤$21,000;
- [From 1 Oct 2020] Does not own more than one property;
- [From 1 Oct 2020, for unemployed applicants only] Demonstrates job search or training efforts;
- Not a current beneficiary of ComCare assistance, i.e. Long-Term Assistance, & Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance.(Note: ComCare clients currently receive comprehensive support, and will be assisted by SSOs if they require more assistance due to changes in their financial circumstances);
- Has not already benefitted from nor is planning to apply for assistance under the Self-Employed Persons Income Relief Scheme (SIRS);
- Not on SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme-Company Training, or SGUnited Skills programmes;
- Full-time National Servicemen and interns are not eligible .
Recipient of the support grant must:
- Have been employed as a full-time or part-time permanent or contract staff prior to job/income loss; and
- Agree to actively participate in job search or attend a training programme under Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute.
COVID-19 Support Grant Amount
- For those who have experienced involuntary job loss or presently on involuntary NPL for a period of at least three consecutive months – Monthly cash grant of up to $800, for 3 months, will be credited into bank account. The cash support quantum will be based on the last-drawn monthly salary, capped at $800.
- Job and training support by Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute.
- For those who have experienced income loss of at least 30% for a period of at least three consecutive months – Monthly cash grant of up to $500, for 3 months, will be credited into bank account. The cash support quantum will be based on the last-drawn monthly salary, capped at $500.
COVID-19 Support Grant Application
Apply online at go.gov.sg/CSG (9am to 6pm daily) till 31 December 2020. Existing/previous CSG recipients may re-apply from 1 October 2020. Those who need help filling in the online application form can call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000) or email ask_sso@msf.gov.sg for assistance. Those who are not able to apply online can call the ComCare Call hotline to schedule an application slot at their nearest Social Service Office (go.gov.sg/ssolocator).
Application Window
Applications open from 4 May – 31 Dec 2020, 9am to 6pm daily.
Procession Time
About 2 weeks upon submission of supporting documents.
Supporting Documents Required
- NRIC
- Bank account number (for fund disbursement)
- Relevant documents indicating involuntary loss of job, being on involuntary NPL or reduction of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months; such as
- Letter of retrenchment/termination of contract
- Letter from employer stating being placed on involuntary NPL for at least three consecutive months
- Letter from employer indicating loss of at least 30% salary for at least three consecutive months
- Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, before loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL, or loss of at least 30% of salary
- Payslip(s) or CPF contribution statement(s) showing last drawn monthly salary, after loss of job, being placed on involuntary NPL, or loss of at least 30% of salary
Training Commitment Awards and Training Allowances are also available for eligible persons under the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme.
- Training Commitment Award is a cash award given to eligible workers after achieving the required certifications.
- Training Allowance grants self-sponsored trainees (i.e. paying for their own training) $6.00 for each hour of training for any WSS qualifying courses.
Learn more about the Workfare Skills Support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Do applicants need to be affected for three months before they are eligible for the COVID-19 Support Grant?
Employees who have lost their jobs can apply for CSG immediately without waiting for three months.
Employees who are placed on involuntary NPL or experiencing reduced monthly salary need not wait till they are affected for three consecutive months to apply. They are eligible for CSG if their NPL or salary loss has already started, and they provide supporting documents, such as a letter from their employer, showing that the involuntary NPL or salary reduction will be for at least three consecutive months.
2) Some applicants may have more than one job. Can they still apply for the COVID-19 Support Grant?
Yes. Applicants who have multiple jobs affected by COVID-19 should report this accordingly in their application forms. The amount of grant will be based on the sum of the last drawn basic monthly salary of the affected jobs capped at $800/month.
For applicants who have lost their job(s) or are placed on involuntary NPL, i.e. have no work income, the amount of grant is capped at $800 per month.
For applicants who had their monthly salary reduced by at least 30% every month for at least three consecutive months, the amount of grant is capped at $500 per month. This grant is capped at a lower amount as applicants still have some work income.
3) Are daily-rated/ad-hoc workers eligible for the COVID-19 Support Grant?
The COVID-19 Support Grant is for full-time or part-time employees with valid employment contracts. Daily-rated/ad-hoc workers who do not have employment contracts or CPF contributions are not considered full-time or part-time employees.
Daily-rated/ad-hoc workers who require financial assistance may approach their nearest Social Service Offices (SSOs) (go.gov.sg/locate-sso) to apply for financial assistance.
Comcare provides financial assistance and comprehensive support to low-income individuals and families (with monthly household income of $1,900 and below, or a per capita income of $650 and below). If their income exceeds these guidelines, they may still approach the SSOs if they face financial difficulties. The SSOs will assess their circumstances and needs, and provide assistance accordingly.
4) Are self-employed persons (SEPs) eligible for the COVID-19 Support Grant?
The COVID-19 Support Grant is for full-time or part-time employees. SEPs such as insurance agents, real estate agents, freelancers (including delivery riders), hawkers, taxi drivers/private-hire car drivers, are not eligible for COVID-19 Support Grant.
SEPs may qualify for the SEP income Relief Scheme (SIRS) instead. (https://www.ntuc.com.sg/SIRS)
5) When is the CSG payout date?
Usually for the 1st month, it will depend on when the officer approves the application (from day the application is approved till payout will usually be about a week). For the subsequent 2 months (CSG is for 3 months of assistance), it will usually be on the 4th of the month.
6) What are some of the documents applicants can submit to demonstrate that they have actively participated in job search or a training programme during the period when they were affected by job loss/NPL?
Please refer to the list below for examples of acceptable documents. The participation in job search/training must have taken place after job loss and within two calendar months before date of application.
| S/N | Type of Job Search and/or Training Efforts | Permissible Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Applied for schemes under SGUnited Job & Skills Package
| Record of job and training applications Applicants should have made at least one job application or attended at least one interview within two months preceding CSG applications.
^Individual who have commenced their SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme – Company Training |
| 2. | Applied for or participated in job search or training programme under Workforce Singapore (WSG) or the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) | Record of job application/attendance of job search or training programmes under WSG/e2i.
|
| 3. | Applied or participated in training programme(s) supported by SkillsFuture Singapore | Record showing application for/enrolment in course(s) supported by SkillsFuture Singapore Email receipts or screenshots showing application for/enrolment in course(s) supported by SkillsFuture Singapore, or certificates attained upon successful completion of course(s). Emails or screenshots should minimally indicate name of applicant, date of application, course title, and name of training provider. |
| 4. | Applied or interviewed for jobs | Letters/emails/screenshots of application for job, or scheduled/attended interviews. At least 1 job application/interview within two months before CSG application. Or Self-declaration of job search efforts Applicants will be asked to provide the name/contact/address of the employer that they have contacted, and the date of their interview. MSF will conduct further checks on the information provided. Please note that there will be legal consequences for those who make false declarations in their CSG application. |
