SINGAPORE: About 20,000 people received incorrect subsidies or grants after a “processing issue” in a means-testing system managed by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Of these, about 2,000 people received lower-than-intended subsidies. The total value of under-subsidies is about S$2 million, averaging around S$1,000 per affected person, the ministry said in response to CNA’s queries.
The remaining 18,000 received higher subsidies, with the total value amounting to about S$7 million – around S$390 per affected individual.
In a media release on Monday (Jul 21), MOH said it has completed the reassessment of the affected people. “MOH will adjust their means-test and subsidy tiers back to the intended levels from Jul 21, 2025 onwards,” it added.
For those who received an over-subsidy, they will not have to return the excess subsidy or grant amounts that have already been paid.
“For the minority of individuals who received lower than intended subsidies and/or grants, agencies will make good the difference,” said the ministry.
The means-testing system managed by MOH, called the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES), typically uses income information from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) to assess individuals with business income.
However, in January 2025, the system could not appropriately account for the business incomes of selected individuals following changes in the data processing timelines.
This led to “inaccurate means-testing” for individuals with business incomes and members of their households between Jan 1 and Jan 27, MOH said.
