According to the government website for the scheme, named SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support, Singapore citizens aged 21 and above are eligible if they have worked in the city-state for at least six months in the past year and had an average monthly income of S$5,000 or less during that time.
They must have been unemployed for at least one month since their last day of work due to reasons beyond their control, such as retrenchment, business closure, or termination due to health issues.
The property they reside in must also have an annual value of S$31,000 or less. Payouts will stop once the recipient finds a job.
Applicants must also complete a set of employment-related activities each month to qualify for payouts, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon said on Friday, as reported by The Straits Times.
He said these activities, including updating their resumes, attending career fairs and workshops, were designed based on user research to offer job seekers professional guidance and give them confidence that they are on the right track to find a new job.
About $200 million will be allocated for the scheme, which Koh said is expected to support about 60,000 people annually, or more than 60% of those who are currently involuntarily unemployed.
Koh also emphasized that the scheme works alongside other financial aid programs and should not be viewed separately, according to CNA.
A retrenched worker who signs up for long-form training, for instance, may qualify for both the monthly payout and another scheme, SkillsFuture Level-Up, which provides training allowances for mid-career citizens.
Over six months, the worker could receive up to S$21,000, including S$6,000 in payouts and S$15,000 in training allowances.
“As jobseekers embark on these activities as part of their job search journey, we hope to build up their confidence. And when jobseekers eventually return to work, we hope they will regain their sense of identity and self-worth,” Koh said.
