COMMUTING MADE EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
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EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
27 July 2017
MEDIA RELEASE
COMMUTING MADE EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
TAXI SUBSIDY SCHEME TO BE ENHANCED WHILE CARPARK
LABEL SCHEME REVISED
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will enhance the Taxi
Subsidy Scheme so that persons with disabilities can better access and afford the
use of taxis to commute to school, work and employability training.
2. The enhancement supports the recommendations in the Third Enabling
Masterplan, which called for transportation needs of persons with disabilities to be
made more accessible, so that they can participate in activities in the community.
Enhancements to the Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS)
3. While efforts to improve the accessibility of persons with disabilities to travel on
public transport have been made over the years with accessible bus stops, MRT
stations and buses, some persons with disabilities are unable to make use of these
services due to their specific disabilities and needs. The Taxi Subsidy Scheme
(TSS) was thus introduced in 2014 as an affordable and accessible transport option
for persons with disabilities who may need to travel by taxis to school or work.
4. From 1 August 2017, the following enhancements will be made to the TSS:
A. The TSS will be extended to more households. Households with monthly
per capita income of up to $2,600 will be eligible for TSS subsidies, up from
$1,800 previously.
B. The level of subsidy support will be increased, from 50% to 80% of the cost
of travelling for the highest subsidy tier.
C. The TSS will be extended to those attending employment-related training
supported by SG Enable.
D. The TSS will also be extended to LTA-registered private hire cars under
third party private hire car booking service providers such as Grab and Uber.
This will provide more transport options to meet the needs of persons with
disabilities.
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EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
5. These enhancements are estimated to cost the government an additional
$2.5m over the next five years. This is $0.5m more a year from the current $200,000
annual utilisation. The number of beneficiaries is expected to increase from the
current 80 beneficiaries to about 200 to 300 beneficiaries by 2021.
Revisions to the Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS)
6. There has been collective effort on the part of the government agencies to
enhance accessibility for persons with physical disabilities. The enhanced BCA
code has enabled greater access to built infrastructure. Persons with disabilities as
well as elderly and parents with children on strollers benefit from an increase in the
number of drop-off points at various amenities and HDB flats to enable easier
boarding and alighting. The Ministry has also been working with relevant agencies
to meet the increasing demand for accessible car park lots for persons with
disabilities who drive their own car. Despite these efforts, many still have difficulty
finding accessible car park lots.
7. The MSF and the Ministry of National Development have consulted
stakeholders, including persons with disabilities and their caregivers, Voluntary
Welfare Organisations and public car parks enforcement agencies such as the
Housing and Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority in
revising the CPLS. There was consensus to reserve accessible lots for those who
require additional space for alighting and boarding their vehicles.
8. The Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) for persons with disabilities will be revised
from 1 November 2017 to ensure that only persons with disabilities who use bulky
mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walking frames will be eligible for accessible
car park lots. This will apply to all applications from 1 November 2017. Existing car
park label holders who do not meet the new eligibility criteria will have their term of
support expire according to their current expiry dates, after which any application
for renewals will be subject to the revised eligibility criteria.
9. The car park labels have also been redesigned to better manage the use of
accessible car park lots. The enhanced features include larger label size with
tamper proof hologram and larger fonts for ease of visibility by enforcement officers
on the ground. Class 2 labels will be fitted with a time disc so that enforcement
officers can monitor drivers’ adherence to the one hour allocated to park in these
lots.
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EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
10. All new successful applicants and existing label holders will be issued with the
redesigned labels from mid- August 2017 onwards. This will enable existing label
holders ample time to switch over to the new redesigned labels. Car park label
holders will need to display the new labels from 1 November 2017 to minimise
confusion for car park label holders, enforcement officers, as well as members of
the public in having to distinguish between old labels and new labels. For existing
label holders the new car park labels will carry the same expiry date as their existing
labels.
ISSUED BY
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (MSF)
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EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
ANNEX A
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS)
1. Who is the TSS for and when was it rolled out?
The TSS is for persons with permanent disabilities who are medically certified as
unable to take public transport, and totally dependent on taxis for travelling to
school or work. It was rolled out on 1 October 2014.
2. What is the eligibility criteria of the TSS?
To qualify for the TSS, eligible candidates must be:
Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
Certified as having a permanent disability and is medically certified as unable
to take public transport and dependent on taxis for travelling to school or work
A working adult or student
o Adults who are in employment
o Students attending mainstream schools or Institutes of Higher
Learning (e.g. Polytechnics, ITEs and Universities) that are registered
or recognised by the Ministry of Education (MOE)
o Students attending private educational institutes registered with MOE
or with the Committee of Private Education (CPE) with a minimum
course duration of two months
Candidates must also:
Have a per capita household income (PCI) of $1,800 per month and below.
Not own any vehicle
Not concurrently enjoying subsidies under the VWO Transport Subsidies
From 1 August 2017 onwards:
Extended to trainees attending employment-related training courses approved
by SGE
PCI of $2,600 per month and below
4EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
3. Could you share more details on the enhanced TSS subsidy levels?
Details on the enhanced TSS subsidy levels, which will take effect from 1 August
2017, are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1. Existing and Enhanced Taxi Subsidy Scheme
Monthly Per Capita Current Subsidy Rates Enhanced Subsidy Rates
Income (wef. 1 August 2017)
SC PR SC PR
$0 to $700 50% 25% 80% 55%
$701 to $1,100 40% 20% 75% 50%
$1,101 to $1,600 30% 15% 60% 40%
$1,601 to $1,800 20% 10% 50% 30%
$1,801 to $2,600 0% 0% 30% 15%
Above $2,600 0% 0%
4. Could you share more information on the SGE’s approved training courses?
The list of approved training courses can be found at the following website:
http://employment.sgenable.sg/training/training-programmes/.
5. Could you illustrate how a typical beneficiary would stand to benefit from
the TSS enhancements?
Example 1
Mr Tan has a household income of $2,400 (or monthly per capita income of $600
based on his 4-member household size) His taxi fares cost him about 960 a month.
With the enhancements, the amount he will save per month is as follows:
Under Current Scheme
Monthly per capita income band: $0 - $700
Subsidy rate: 50%
Taxi fares before subsidy: $960
Out-of-pocket payment after subsidies: $960 x 50% = $480
From 1 August 2017
Monthly per capita income band: $0 - $700
Subsidy rate: 80%
Taxi fares before subsidy: $960
Out-of-pocket payment after subsidies: $960 x 20% = $192
Hence, the amount Mr Tan will save per month is ($480-192) = $288
5EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
Example 2
Ms Siti has a household income of $12,000 (or monthly per capita income of
$2,400 based on a 5-member household size). Her taxi fares cost her about
$1,200. With the enhancements, the amount she will save per month is as follows:
Under Current Scheme
Monthly per capita income band: Above $1,800
Subsidy rate: Not eligible
Taxi fares before subsidy: $1,200
Out-of-pocket payment after subsidies: $1,200
From 1 August 2017
Monthly per capita income band: $1,801 - $2,600
Subsidy rate: 30%
Taxi fares before subsidy: $1,200
Out-of-pocket payment after subsidies: $1,200 x 70% = $840
Hence, the amount Ms Siti will save per month is ($1,200 - $840) = $360
Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS)
1. What is the CPLS?
The CPLS allows eligible persons with physical disabilities to embark and
disembark from their vehicles in accessible parking lots by displaying a special
vehicle label.
There are two types of labels:
Class 1 Label – For drivers who are medically certified as having physical
disabilities and requiring the use of mobility aids. The label allows the driver to
park in a designated lot.
Class 2 Label – For passengers with physical disabilities or Voluntary Welfare
Organisations (VWOs) with vehicles ferrying passengers with physical
disabilities regularly. The label allows the caregiver-drivers to park in a
designated lot for up to 60 minutes to assist the passenger to board or alight.
Thereafter the vehicle must be shifted to a standard parking lot to free up the
accessible lot to other eligible users.
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2. Could you share examples of mobility aids that are currently covered but
will be excluded under the revised eligibility criteria?
Table 1: Eligibility Criteria under CPLS Today and from 1 Nov 2017
Criteria Eligible Eligible from
Today? 1 Nov 2017?
Using crutches Yes No
Using quad-sticks Yes No
Using wheelchairs Yes Yes
Using walking frames Yes Yes
Using lower-limb Yes Yes
prostheses
3. How are the new labels different from existing ones? How will the new
design prevent indiscriminate use of the accessible car park lots?
The diagram below shows the current and new Class 1 and 2 Car Park Labels,
and the enhancements to the design of the labels.
Current - Class 1 Car Park Label Current – Class 2 Car Park Label
7EMBARGOED TILL 27 JULY, 12PM
New - Class 1 Car Park Label New - Class 2 Car Park Label
Larger label size Clearer & larger fonts Larger label with
time disc
Tamper-
Tamper- proof
proof hologram
hologram
Clearer &
XXXX larger fonts
YYYY
Besides the changes that make key information on the labels more prominent,
the new Class 2 label has a rotatable time disc which requires the Class 2 label
holder or caregiver driver to indicate their arrival time. This makes it easier for
enforcement agencies to monitor the use of accessible lots by Class 2 label
holders and reduce the misuse of these lots.
4. Will there be a grace period for existing label holders?
Enforcement officers on the ground will provide a grace period from 1 November
to 31 December should existing label holders be found to be displaying the old
labels. This grace period will be followed with stricter enforcements from January
next year in ensuring that the accessible car park lots are available for persons
with disabilities who need them the most.
5. How will stricter enforcement be carried out after the grace period?
From 1 January 2018, vehicles without a valid car park label and Class 2 label
holders who park in the accessible lot for more than an hour will be fined $200.
The $200 applies to all types of vehicles parking illegally within the accessible
lots. For recalcitrant offenders, HDB/URA will take tougher measures, such as
imposing heavier fines (up to $400) and towing away the vehicles.
6. How have the number of label holders increased over the years?
The number of CPLS label holders has increased and demand is expected to
increase further as our population continues to age. Table 1 below shows the
number of new label holders in the last 5 years.
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Table 1: No. of New CPLS Label Holders
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Class 1 346 369 377 257 305
Class 2 927 1087 1229 1299 1453
Total 1273 1456 1606 1556 1758
7. Could you share some examples of the efforts made to improve
accessibility of public transport and built infrastructure?
Examples of the steps that have been taken include:
Retrofitting of lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges – 47 overhead bridges
adjacent to major public transport nodes, health institutions, welfare homes,
homes for the aged and schools for special needs children will have lifts by
2018;
All zebra crossings and signalised pedestrian crossings are barrier-free;
1,000 Green Man Plus traffic lights by 2018, which give additional crossing
time to the elderly and persons with disabilities;
HDB’s multi-storey carparks installed with lifts, where feasible;
All MRT stations, bus interchanges and 97% of bus shelters are barrier-free;
92% of our public buses are wheelchair-accessible. All will be accessible by
2020;
More than 94% of the taxi stands registered with LTA are barrier-free; and
Expansion of the Silver Zone programme to 50 by 2023 to improve road
safety for less mobile pedestrians with additional traffic calming measures
such as lower speed limits, pinch points and chicanes.
For more information on accessibility efforts with public transport and built
infrastructure, please refer to the following websites:
Pubilc transport:
https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/system-
design/enhancing-physical-accessibility-for-all.html.
Accessibility in the Built Environment: https://www.bca.gov.sg.
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