COVID-19 Temporary Relief Fund Singapore – Online Application?

Today, residents are queuing up at Community Clubs to apply for the temporary relief fund from the government.

The Temporary Relief Fund is for those who have been financially affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

It is a one-time cash of $500.

Singaporeans and permanent residents are eligible to apply.

Applications are open from today, 2nd April 2020, till the end of the month.

It’s an interim measure for the lower to middle-income tier.

Am I financially affected? Of course.

But…

I wonder why we must gather at the community clubs for this when I’m trying very hard to stay at home.

Isn’t there an online application?

… https://www.msf.gov.sg/media-room/Pages/More-Support-for-Lower–to-Middle-Income-Singaporeans-Affected-by-COVID-19-Situation.aspx

I guess i have no choice but to join the queue for my basic living expenses.

The situation around the world is getting worse and that will affect my income even more.

S$500 is definitely not enough for me and my family.

So i have to look into other financial schemes that are being rolled out.

Which scheme am i eligible for? I wonder.

1. Temporary Relief Fund. One-time assistance of $500. For individuals who lost their jobs or face an income loss of at least 30% due to COVID-19. Available from 1st of April to 30th of April 2020. (this seems the most applicable to me but how am I going to show that I lost 30% of my income)
2. COVID-19 Support Grant. $800 per month for 3 months. For employees who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Available from 1st of May 2020. (Not for me)
3. Self-employed Person Income Relief Scheme. Three payouts of $3,000 in May, July and October 2020. (I am self-employed, but there are two criteria that are in the grey area)
4. Workfare special payment. 2 payouts of $1,500 in July and October 2020. For lower-income workers, including self-employed persons. (I’m not eligible for this)

As a self-employed person, how am I going to prove that my income is lesser because of COVID-19? What kind of documents do I need to show? Every month my income is different. I have to wait for another month to show my affected sales invoices.

I may even be looking at the wrong aid because there is another one for Freelancers. (update: freelancers are classified under the Self Employed Income Relief Scheme, aka SIRS, and 88,000 people are already automatically qualified. Am I one of them? Let’s wait for the letter and SMS.)

“This group has also been harder to reach out to as they spread across many occupations and industries, he added. They include taxi and private hire car drivers, real estate agents, media and art freelancers, and sport coaches. They cannot qualify for the Jobs Support Scheme and the Wage Credit Scheme as those apply to employed workers.” – Read more at… https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/resilience-budget-freelancers-get-s1000-monthly-payout-9-months-higher-training-allowances

I am a media freelancer, aka a videographer.

Are you financially affected by the coronavirus outbreak? Are you a self-employed or a freelancer? Have you applied for the aid?

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From the Journal of Adrian Lee… https://adrianvideoimage.com/

Source:

• https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/residents-who-lost-earnings-apply-for-temporary-aid
• https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/thousands-people-queue-s500-financial-aid-social-service-offices-and-cc-applications
• https://www.msf.gov.sg/media-room/Pages/More-Support-for-Lower–to-Middle-Income-Singaporeans-Affected-by-COVID-19-Situation.aspx
• https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/resilience-budget-about-88000-self-employed-persons-benefit-income-relief-scheme-first?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_03092019_todayonline