[Updated on 22 Dec 2021]
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many Singaporeans.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will extend the application period for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) until 31 December 2022. Launched in January 2021, the CRG aims to support lower-to-middle-income employees and self-employed persons (SEPs) who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and give recipients greater peace of mind while they actively search for a new job or pursue training opportunities. The CRG is part of a suite of measures the Government has introduced to support our workers, which include the Jobs Support Scheme, and the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package.
Am I eligible?
Due to the prolonged economic impact of the pandemic, MSF will allow eligible individuals who received CRG previously but remain significantly affected to apply for a third tranche of CRG.
Full details of the eligibility criteria are in the table below.
| Employees | SEPs | |
| Age | 21 years old and above | |
| Citizenship | Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) | |
| Annual Value (AV) of Property | Living in a property with AV not more than $21,000. Applicant should not own more than one property. | |
| Prior household income | Prior to job or income loss or involuntary No-Pay Leave (NPL), household income of not more than $7,800/month or per capita household income of not more than $2,600/month. | |
| Economically active | [From 1 Jan 2022] Worked for at least six months cumulatively between January 2020 and December 2021[1] | [From 1 Jan 2022] Declared annual Net Trade Income (NTI)[2] in either 2020 or 2021. Must provide supporting documents on their line of work. *Self-employed persons (SEPs) may retroactively declare their NTI in past years by submitting Self-Employed Person Income Declaration Form to the CPF Board found here. [For CRG Renewal] Applicants who have received CRG or COVID-19 Recovery Grant - Temporary (CRG - T) before must meet one of the following at the point of application to qualify:
|
| Job / Income loss | Full-time or part-time employees affected by COVID-19 who are presently:
| [From 1 Jan 2022] Presently experiencing average loss in NTI of at least 50% over a period of at least three consecutive months, compared to their average monthly NTI in 2020 or 2021. NTI loss must have taken place after 23 Jan 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Singapore, and be present at the point of application. |
| Job search or training requirement | Applicants must have actively participated in job search or training, and show proof of any of the following activities in the two months prior to application:
| |
| Exclusion Criteria | Applicants should not be concurrently receiving support from any of the following Government schemes when applying for the CRG:
Applicants who are Full-time National Servicemen at the point of application are not eligible. | |
| Tranches (each tranche provides 3 months of assistance) | Eligible persons can receive a maximum of three tranches of CRG over 2021 and 2022 (e.g. those who have received two tranches of CRG in 2021 can receive one more tranche in 2022; those who did not receive CRG in 2021 can receive up to
three tranches in 2022). CRG-T tranches received earlier are not included in this count of the total number of tranches of CRG received.To render further employment support, NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will be contacting individuals who are receiving their third tranche of CRG, to refer them to resources that can support their job search efforts. | |
How much assistance can I get?
1. Employees can get up to $700 per month for three months if:
- Unemployed due to retrenchment or involuntary contract termination; or
- Placed on involuntary NPL for at least three consecutive months.
2. Employees and SEP can get up to $500 per month for three months:
- Employees facing salary loss of at least 50% on average for at least three consecutive months; and
- SEPs facing an average loss in net trade income (NTI) of at least 50% over a period of at least three consecutive months, compared to their average monthly NTI in 2020 or 2021.
How do I apply?
Those who are receiving or have received CRG previously can apply for a renewal from their final month of CRG assistance, or after their assistance has ended[3]. Those who wish to apply for a third tranche of CRG may do so from 1 January 2022 onwards.
Individuals can continue to apply for the CRG online via go.gov.sg/CRG . Applicants should prepare their supporting documents in advance for a smooth application process.
Where to go if I need help?
For help to complete the online application form:
- Call the ComCare Call hotline (1800-222-0000); or
- Email Ask_SSO@msf.gov.sg.
Those who are unable to apply online can visit their nearest Social Service Office (go.gov.sg/ssolocator) for assistance.
For more info on the required supporting documents and the application for COVID-19 Recovery Grant, click here.
[1] Currently, CRG applicants are required to submit proof of work for at least six months between Jan 2019 and Dec 2020, or their NTI declaration made in 2019 or 2020.
[2] Currently, under the income loss criterion, MSF takes reference from the SEP’s average monthly NTI in 2019 or 2020.
[3] For example, if an applicant receives their second tranche of CRG in Dec 2021, Jan 2022, and Feb 2022, and requires additional assistance, the earliest they can apply for a renewal or their CRG will be Feb 2022.
