Assessment will be based on total salary received over the last 12-month period

10 Mar 2008, Today

Question

Name of the Person: Paul Antony Fernandez

Overtime income and subsidies

Friday March 7, 2008

I welcome wholeheartedly the announcement about medical subsidies for Class C and Class B2 hospital wards.

However, what would be helpful is a clarification from the Health Ministry on the income ceiling of $3,200 monthly.

Like many Singaporeans, I do overtime occasionally and when I do, my salary for that month would exceed the income limit.

How would this then be taken into account in the event that I would have to apply for such a subsidy?

Reply

Reply from MOH 

In "Overtime income and subsidies"" (Today,7 March), Mr Paul Anthony Fernandez asked how income would be assessed for the purpose of means-testing.

Our hospitals will rely on income data in the CPF system.  A patient's income will be based on his total salary received over the last-available 12-month period.  It will not be based on just the last month's pay.  This will address the concern about month-to-month differences in pay arising from occasional instances of overtime.