Latest news with #Chas
New Paper
22-07-2025
- Business
- New Paper
MOH overpaid $7m in subsidies and grants, caused $2m in shortfalls
The issue that caused a processing error in a government means-testing system which led to about 20,000 people getting the wrong subsidies and grants has been identified, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on July 22. MOH, which manages the Household Means Eligibility System (Homes), said that the error had resulted in about $7 million in overpayments for about 90 per cent of the affected individuals, and about $2 million in shortfalls for the remainder of those affected. On July 21, MOH said that Homes had experienced a processing issue resulting in about 20,000 people receiving wrong subsidies and grants. The ministry said then that those who received excess subsidy or grant amounts will not have to return them, while those who received less than they were entitled to will have the difference topped up by government agencies by November. Homes uses income information from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) to means-test individuals with business income, such as self-employed people - for selected subsidy schemes across the Government. What happened? For the 2025 year of assessment, Iras' tax filing notification process began later in mid-January, compared with the preceding December in previous years, said MOH. This was to ensure Central Provident Fund contributions for the full year were captured for more accurate income tax assessments. However, the "system logic" at the time caused Homes to omit the business income of selected individuals. This led to inaccurate means-testing for individuals with business income and members of their households between Jan 1 and Jan 27, 2025. MOH said that Homes was first alerted to the issue on Jan 13 through a member of the public's query when applying for subsidies, which triggered an investigation, leading to the identification of the issue. The ministry added that it is currently enhancing the design of Homes for better integration and coordination with agencies. In a similar incident in 2019, about 7,700 people who applied for and renewed their Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) cards in September and October 2018 received inaccurate subsidies after a computer system miscalculated their means-test results.
Business Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
[SINGAPORE] About 20,000 people received the wrong subsidies and grants owing to a processing issue in a government means-testing system. The Ministry of Health (MOH), which manages the Household Means Eligibility System (Homes), said on Jul 21 that corrections to the subsidy and grant levels of those affected are in progress. The ministry added that it has completed a reassessment of the affected individuals' subsidy tiers. The majority of those affected received more subsidies and grants than they were entitled to, said the ministry. They will not have to return the excess subsidy or grant amounts that have already been paid out. Those who received less than they were entitled to will have the difference topped up by government agencies, said MOH. They will receive the reimbursement payments by November. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up MOH said it will adjust the means-test and subsidy tiers of affected individuals to the intended levels from Jul 21. Homes uses income information from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to means-test individuals with business income. It provides means-testing results for selected subsidy schemes across the government. Explaining the processing issue, MOH said that, in January, Homes could not appropriately account for the business income of some people after changes to data processing timelines. This caused miscalculations in the means-test results of these individuals and members of their households between Jan 1 and 27, said MOH. It added that the roughly 20,000 affected people represent less than 3 per cent of all individuals means-tested during this period. MOH said about 19,000 people were affected for schemes under MOH, while around 1,000 individuals were affected for other schemes under the Early Childhood Development Agency, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Education and Infocomm Media Development Authority. The MOH schemes affected by the processing issue are: Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) Subsidies for CareShield Life or MediShield Life premiums and Additional Premium Support Subsidies for long-term care services Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund Equipment Rental Scheme Home Caregiving Grant ElderFund Subsidies at public healthcare institutions for day surgery, inpatient services, specialist outpatient clinics, polyclinic drugs/vaccines and community hospital services Schemes by other government agencies affected by the processing issue are: Early Childhood Development Agency's pre-school subsidies and early intervention schemes Infocomm Media Development Authority's DigitalAccess@Home Scheme Ministry of Education's Higher Education Bursaries and Kindergarten Care Additional Subsidies Ministry of Social and Family Development's Enabling Transport Subsidy, Taxi Subsidy Scheme and Assistive Technology Fund Agencies will reach out to inform those impacted by the processing issue progressively. These individuals do not have to take any action on their part, said MOH. In a similar incident in 2019, about 7,700 people who applied for and renewed their Chas cards in September and October 2018 received inaccurate subsidies after a computer system miscalculated their means-test results. The Straits Times has contacted MOH for more information. THE STRAITS TIMES
AsiaOne
22-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH, Singapore News
About 20,000 people received the wrong subsidies and grants owing to a processing issue in a government means-testing system. The Ministry of Health (MOH), which manages the Household Means Eligibility System (Homes), said on July 21 that corrections to the subsidy and grant levels of those affected are in progress. The ministry added that it has completed a reassessment of the affected individuals' subsidy tiers. The majority of those affected received more subsidies and grants than they were entitled to, said the ministry. They will not have to return the excess subsidy or grant amounts that have already been paid out. Those who received less than they were entitled to will have the difference topped up by government agencies, said MOH. They will receive the reimbursement payments by November. MOH said it will adjust the means-test and subsidy tiers of affected individuals to the intended levels from July 21. Homes uses income information from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to means-test individuals with business income. It provides means-testing results for selected subsidy schemes across the Government. Explaining the processing issue, MOH said that, in January, Homes could not appropriately account for the business income of some people after changes to data processing timelines. This caused miscalculations in the means-test results of these individuals and members of their households between Jan 1 and 27, said MOH. It added that the roughly 20,000 affected people represent less than 3 per cent of all individuals means-tested during this period. MOH said about 19,000 people were affected for schemes under MOH, while around 1,000 individuals were affected for other schemes under the Early Childhood Development Agency, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Education and Infocomm Media Development Authority. The MOH schemes affected by the processing issue are: Health Assist Scheme (Chas) Subsidies for CareShield Life or MediShield Life premiums and Additional Premium Support Subsidies for long-term care services Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund Equipment Rental Scheme Home Caregiving Grant ElderFund Subsidies at public healthcare institutions for day surgery, inpatient services, specialist outpatient clinics, polyclinic drugs/vaccines and community hospital services Schemes by other government agencies affected by the processing issue are: Early Childhood Development Agency's pre-school subsidies and early intervention schemes Infocomm Media Development Authority's DigitalAccess@Home Scheme Ministry of Education's Higher Education Bursaries and Kindergarten Care Additional Subsidies Ministry of Social and Family Development's Enabling Transport Subsidy, Taxi Subsidy Scheme and Assistive Technology Fund Agencies will reach out to inform those impacted by the processing issue progressively. These individuals do not have to take any action on their part, said MOH. In a similar incident in 2019, about 7,700 people who applied for and renewed their Chas cards in September and October 2018 received inaccurate subsidies after a computer system miscalculated their means-test results. about 7,700 people who applied for and renewed their Chas cards in September and October 2018 received inaccurate subsidies The Straits Times has contacted MOH for more information. This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Canberra Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Canberra Times
Big girls do cry - and macho men, too
Chas said (and I'll keep his first sentence): "Good article Steve, and right on the money. History is littered with examples of societal collapse brought about by the excesses of the affluent exercised in the face of the vast majority of the underprivileged. In relatively later millennia, the Roman Empire comes to mind (think Nero and Caligula), the French Revolution, and in some measure, the USSR. In the historical mix, one can include the British Empire and the Spanish pillaging of foreign wealth."
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Crackdown on underage driving in Bokaro district
Bokaro: A special crackdown on underage driving was launched in Bokaro on Thursday under the direction of Chas sub-divisional officer (SDO) Pranjal Dhanda. The campaign targets minors driving two-wheelers or four-wheelers without valid licenses and overloaded auto-rickshaws transporting school children. Traffic police carried out intensive checking near schools in Sector IV, home to major institutions like DAV Public School, DPS Bokaro, Kendriya Vidyalaya, St. Mary's School, and Kairali Public School. Several minors were caught riding two-wheelers. "This drive will continue," Dhanda stated. As per traffic police reports, 14 two-wheelers were seized from underage drivers. Additionally, overloaded school autos were penalised, collecting fines amounting to Rs 18,000. SDO Dhanda said, "The campaign's goal is to ensure road safety, prevent accidents involving minors, and spread awareness across schools, coaching centres, and both urban and rural areas of the district." He added, "We have urged parents and school staff to cooperate for students' safety."
