Definitions

Data refer to government transfers to resident households in the bottom quintile (based on household market income per member) as a percentage share of total government transfers to resident households. Refer to the SDG global metadata for more information.

Concepts

Government Transfers are unrequited assistance/benefits provided by the Government to households or individuals. These can be in cash or in-kind and can be classified into three categories: - Regular Government contributions: Recurring cash disbursements, top-ups or rebates (e.g. Workfare Income Supplement, GST Vouchers, Pioneer Generation MediSave Top-ups).
- Ad-hoc Government contributions: One-off disbursements (e.g. CDC Vouchers, Post-Secondary Education Account Top-ups, One-off Retirement Savings Bonus under the Majulah Package).
- Transfers in kind: Value of in-kind benefits through subsidised services or goods (e.g. Education Subsidies, Centre-Based Infant and Child Care Subsidies).
Based on international standards and guidelines by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations (UN) Expert Group on Household Income, capital housing transfers (e.g. CPF Housing Grant) that are large, lump sum and one-off payments have an effect beyond the year as well as an investment impact, and hence are not within the scope of household income statistics.
Household market income refers to income earned by households from the market economy before any Government transfers and taxes. It comprises income from employment (including one-twelfth of annual bonuses and employer CPF contributions) and non-employment sources including investments (such as interests from savings and/or CPF balances, dividends from investments), rental, contributions from other households (such as allowance from children to parents not staying in the same household, alimony), pensions, annuities, royalties and regular payouts from CPF and insurance (i.e. CPF ElderShield and CareShield Life).
Resident households refer to households where the household reference person is a Singapore Citizen or permanent resident.

Computational Method

Indicator computed as the percentage of Government transfers received by resident households in the bottom 20% income group defined based on a ranking of resident households by their household market income per household member.

Disaggregation

-

Data Source

Ministry of Finance (MOF), Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS)

Data Collection

Household-based survey, augmented with administrative data.

Time Period

2015 onwards

Frequency

Annual

Indicator 1.b.1