One of the top concerns of my clients who have care and control of their children is the HDB single parent scheme.
Petition by Aware
The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will be starting a petition to request for changes to help single parents in Singapore rent or buy HDB flats.
The changes in policies that Aware are pushing for include:
- raising the $1,500 monthly income cap for divorced parents with custody to be allowed to rent from HDB after their flats are sold, without waiting for 5 years.
- Having unwed mothers with children to be considered a “a family” for the purpose of applying for HDB flats. This will give the mother and children a chance to build a stable family life.
A Member of Parliament stated that about 3 to 5% of the housing cases he see involved single parents. He supports the ideas of providing more housing assistance to single parents.
See: Toh Yong Chuan, “Petition to ease single parents’ housing woes”, The Straits Times, 15 May 2017
For divorced parents with children, they will usually be allowed to retain their HDB flat if:
- They are above 35 years old and qualify under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme of the HDB; or
- They have care and control of their children and are able to form a family nucleus with their children for the purpose of retaining the flat.
For unwed mothers, given that the children are illegitimate, they may not be able to fulfil either option 1 or 2.
I agree with the policy changes suggested by Aware. It is important that there be a roof over the children’s heads.
Contact us today if you have more questions on the HDB single parent scheme.
You may also be interested to read more about:
2. Annulment (Nullity) of Marriage
5. Maintenance Issues (Alimony)