Pioneer Generation Package notification letters sent out from June 2014

Pioneer Generation Package letters from today
By Joanna Seow, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2014

SINGAPOREANS who qualify for the Pioneer Generation Package will receive letters from the Government starting today, with information on the lifetime benefits they will receive.

The first perk under the $8 billion package is Medisave top-ups, which will be automatically credited into their Medisave accounts from next month.

Details on what to do if people do not have an account will be in this week's letter.

Around $210 million in top-ups will be given out this year to pioneers - Singaporeans who are 65 and older this year and who became citizens before 1987, said the Ministry of Finance yesterday.

More details can be found at the website www.pioneers.sg

The ministry also named members of an appeals panel which has been formed to look into cases of people who just missed out on getting citizenship before the cut-off for the pioneer generation.

This could include those who have lived in Singapore since the early years and demonstrated clear efforts to sink roots here.

The ministry noted that when it came to the cut-off for age, the Government had "already adopted an inclusive approach by setting the age threshold at those who were 16 years old and above in 1965, younger than adulthood".

The 10-member panel is chaired by Mr Timothy James de Souza, a member of the People's Association Board and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. He is also a trustee of the Eurasian Association.

The deputy chairman is Mr James Koh Cher Siang, chairman of the Housing Board and the governing board of the Mechanobiology Institute Singapore.



The Government has been trying to help people better understand its assistance schemes.

Although a survey it did of 1,500 Singaporeans in March found that seven in 10 had heard of the Pioneer Generation Package, four in 10 of those who knew about the scheme did not know its benefits.

Over the weekend, some 170 women grassroots leaders received training so that they can explain policies like the package to heartlanders, especially the elderly.

At one of the training sessions yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor briefed volunteers on the key messages and intent of the Pioneer Generation Package, as well as the national health insurance scheme MediShield Life.

"(The pioneer) generation of Singaporeans tends to be less connected to developments around them, mainly because of age, language barriers, or lack of media awareness, as well as lower levels of education," said Dr Khor, who is also co-chair of the Pioneer Generation Package Taskforce.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event at The Grassroots Club in Yio Chu Kang, she added that it was useful to work with grassroots volunteers "because they are familiar with the residents so we hope they can reach out to the pioneers and no one will be left out".

About 180 appeal to qualify for Pioneer Generation Package
Channel NewsAsia, 16 Jun 2014

The panel set up to handle appeals from those who just missed out on qualifying for the Pioneer Generation Package has received about 180 appeals, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

The package – which will see pioneers receive their first round of benefits in the form of Medisave top-ups from July – was introduced for those who were born before 1950 and became citizens before 1987.

In assessing appeals, the panel will focus on those who marginally missed out on the citizenship attainment criterion, but have lived in Singapore since the early years and “shown clear efforts to sink roots here”, the MOF said.

The 10-member panel is chaired by Mr Timothy James de Souza, a member of the People’s Association (PA) Board and the Presidential Council of Minority Rights. Mr James Koh, chairman of the Housing and Development Board, is deputy chairman.

Said Mr de Souza: “As our members come from different backgrounds and have a diversity of experiences, we will be able to consider different perspectives for each appeal.”

Meanwhile, members of the pioneer generation will be receiving letters from the Government, starting this week, informing them of the lifetime benefits. The package, which includes special subsidies for outpatient care, will cost the Government an estimated S$9 billion and is expected to benefit about 450,000 seniors.

Govt to disburse $210 million in Medisave top-ups for Pioneers from July
Members of the Pioneer Generation will get their Medisave top-ups from July.
Channel NewsAsia, 15 Jun 2014

They would be receiving letters from the Government starting this week, informing them of the lifetime benefits that they will receive from the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) and their eligibility.

The Medisave top-ups are the first benefit under the PGP to be implemented.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said about $210 million in Medisave top-ups will be disbursed to Pioneers this year.

Besides the Medisave top-ups, pioneers will also enjoy special subsidies for outpatient care.

These would include an additional 50 percent off subsidised treatments at polyclinics and Specialist Outpatient Clinics.

Pioneers will also enjoy special subsidies at general practitioner clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

And those with moderate to severe functional disabilities under the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme will get cash of $1,200 a year.

Pioneers will receive their Pioneer Generation cards by September.

They will be able to use their cards from 1 September 2014 to enjoy outpatient subsidies at CHAS clinics, polyclinics and Specialist Outpatient Clinics.

MOF said the MediShield Life premium subsidies will begin when MediShield Life is introduced in end-2015.

To be eligible for the PGP, living Singapore citizens need to meet two criteria: aged 16 years and above in 1965 and received their citizenship by 31 December 1986.

An Appeals Panel will look into appeals from those who marginally miss out on the criteria for the Pioneer Generation.

MOF said the panel will focus on those who marginally miss out on the citizenship attainment criterion, that is, to have obtained citizenship by 31 December 1986 but who have lived in Singapore since the early years and shown clear efforts to sink roots here.
















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MOF: Pioneers to get Medisave Top-Ups from July -15 Jun 2014