NTUC has launched a new $6 million care and support programme to help low-income union members with daily expenses amidst the downturn due to the COVID-19 situation.
Announced on 24 July 2020, the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) programme offers eligible union members up to $100 worth of assistance on daily essentials and schools supplies, with an additional $100 for every eligible school-going child.
The programme will replace the NTUC U Stretch and Back To School voucher programmes, which have been discontinued.
Eligible members will receive the e-vouchers via SMS. They can be used to offset the cost of purchases at participating merchants such as NTUC FairPrice supermarkets, FairPrice Xtra hypermarkets and participating school bookshops.
Some 29,000 members will stand to benefit from the programme, which will run every year.
“During such challenging times, NTUC is glad to do our part to provide some relief for members in need. The e-vouchers will help members stretch their dollar on basic necessities, enabling them to continue to provide for their families during uncertain times.
“We have pooled together a bigger sum this year to help more members, and hope that this added boost can encourage members to stay safe and strong as we continue our fight against COVID-19,” said NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng.
Union members with dependants staying in the same household, with a total monthly gross household income of $3,400 and below or per capita income of not more than $850, will qualify.
For members without dependants staying in the same household, they would need to earn a personal gross monthly income of $1,500 and below to qualify.
Around 17,500 union members who had previously benefitted from NTUC U Stretch and Back To School voucher programmes will automatically be qualified for the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers).
These beneficiaries will be notified in July of their auto-qualified status and do not need to apply. They will receive their e-vouchers at the end of August 2020.
Union members who meet the eligibility criteria but did not benefit from the previous voucher programmes are required to apply for the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) from 1 to 31 August 2020.
Successful applicants will receive their e-vouchers at the end of October 2020.
Click here to apply for the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers).
One beneficiary who auto-qualifies for the e-vouchers is Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union member Ananthi D/O Tharumarajoo, 42.
As she has two school-going children, she will receive a total of $300 worth of e-vouchers.
“I am very thankful to be able to receive $300 worth of assistance this year. I am planning to use most of it for my children’s school supplies, as their needs are most important to me. All this support truly lessens my worries as I know times are hard now and we should be more careful with our spending,” she said.
More details on the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) programme can be found here.
The NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) is another care and support programme that comes after the NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) launched in March this year, said NTUC.
The NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) provides one-off cash relief for eligible NTUC union members whose incomes have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.
NTUC added that it will continue to look after the welfare of its members, especially during such difficult times.
