Applications for HDB HFE Letter Under Deferred Income Assessment Scheme from Couples with Student and Working Status
Debated in Parliament on 2 Jul 2024.
Summary
- Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about more flexibility from HDB for couples applying for the HDB flat eligibility letter under the deferred income assessment scheme, particularly when one partner is studying and the other has been working for over a year.
- Minister Desmond Lee clarified that young couples where both are full-time students or National Servicemen in the last 12 months cannot qualify for the Enhanced Central Provident Fund Housing Grant (EHG) until one partner has 12 months of continuous employment.
- He stated that couples with one partner employed for 12 months can qualify for the EHG without deferring their income assessment and that HDB provides financial advice for flat purchase assistance.
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Full Transcript
Nadia Ahmad Samdin
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB can exercise more flexibility when considering applications for the HDB flat eligibility (HFE) letter under the deferred income assessment scheme, when one of the two parties of the applying couple is still studying while the other has been working for more than 12 months; and (b) what criteria does the HDB use in deciding whether to approve such cases.
Desmond Lee
Young couples where both parties were full-time students or National Servicemen in the last 12 months are not eligible for the Enhanced Central Provident Fund Housing Grant (EHG), which requires 12 months of continuous employment prior to a household's Housing and Development Board (HDB) Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter application. We, therefore, allow them to apply for a flat first and defer their income assessment to give them time to enter into continuous employment, before their eligibility for EHG is assessed. Couples with one party already working for the last 12 months before their HFE letter application can already qualify for the EHG and, therefore, need not defer their income assessment.
Young couples who need financial advice on their flat purchase may approach HDB for assistance.