Government confirms support for elderly man at People’s Park Centre seen eating leftovers

On 13 November 2024, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party questioned the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) about its efforts to support elderly men reportedly seen eating leftovers at People’s Park Centre hawker centre.

Leong raised this issue amid public concerns regarding elderly welfare and the adequacy of social assistance for those who might face financial or social hardship.

In a written response, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli addressed the specific case of an elderly man recently observed eating leftovers at the hawker centre.

According to Mr Masagos, Social Service Offices (SSOs) had already reached out to the individual and provided assistance, including financial aid through ComCare. The ministry shared that the man had received ComCare benefits in the past, with the assistance renewed on two occasions prior to the most recent outreach.

The minister noted that, although the individual was eligible to continue receiving ComCare, he did not reapply for further renewal, instead opting to rely on his personal savings for basic expenses.

The man reportedly informed MSF that he chose to eat leftovers as a measure of personal frugality, rather than out of necessity.

In his response, Mr Masagos clarified that while financial assistance remains available, the man chose not to access it recently. Nevertheless, after the outreach, the SSO provided him with ComCare assistance once again and advised him to use the funds for meals instead of relying on leftover food.

In addition to ComCare support, the man had been receiving other forms of government assistance.

This included payments under the Silver Support Scheme and payouts such as GST Vouchers and Assurance Package funds, which altogether totalled S$5,950. MSF confirmed it will continue monitoring the man’s well-being and will offer further assistance if he requires it.

Mr Masagos also highlighted that the government relies on public assistance in identifying those who may need help, as authorities may not always be aware of individuals facing hardship.

The community was encouraged to report cases to the ComCare hotline at 1800-222-0000, SSOs, or Family Service Centres so that social services can reach out to individuals potentially requiring aid.

This case has prompted renewed public discussion on the accessibility and visibility of social support for the elderly, especially for those who may not seek aid actively but appear in need of assistance.

The MSF’s outreach efforts and community reporting mechanism aim to close gaps in reaching elderly residents who may not otherwise engage with available assistance channels.