About 20,000 Singaporeans are set to receive adjusted subsidies following a significant processing error in the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES) managed by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The error, which impacted the subsidy levels of many individuals, has prompted MOH to take swift action to ensure the affected parties are corrected by November 2024.
Details of the Processing Error
The MOH revealed that the error occurred due to inadequate accounting for business incomes from January 2024 to January 27, 2024. Approximately 19,000 of those affected were under MOH schemes, with an additional 1,000 individuals affected by other government schemes.
- Majority received excessive subsidies: Most individuals received more subsidies than they were entitled to.
- Corrective measures: Individuals who received less than they were entitled to will be reimbursed.
- No return of excess funds: Affected individuals won’t have to return any excess payments received.
Impact on Various Schemes
The subsidies affected span various government schemes including:
- CareShield Life and MediShield Life premium subsidies.
- Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).
- ElderFund and various other assistance programmes.
Individuals will receive notifications via post, and no action is required on their part.
Historical Context
This isn’t the first time such an error has occurred. In October 2018, around 7,700 applicants for the Chas card faced similar issues due to miscalculations in means-testing.
In light of this recent development, MOH reassures that corrective measures are being implemented and urges all affected individuals to remain calm as they await notifications.