Thousands of individuals encounter problems due to a glitch in the means-testing system overseen by the Ministry of Health, affecting 20,000 people.
The Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES), managed by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), experienced a processing issue that affected approximately 20,000 individuals between January 1 and January 27, 2025. This issue resulted in inaccurate means-testing for people with business incomes and their household members.
The root cause of the problem was traced back to changes in data processing timelines. Specifically, the system could not adequately account for the business incomes of selected individuals, leading to incorrect subsidies and grants for those affected.
The majority of those affected received subsidies and grants that were higher than intended, while the rest received lower-than-intended amounts. The affected individuals included approximately 19,000 people under schemes administered by MOH, as well as about 1,000 individuals under other government schemes managed by agencies like the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
The MOH is currently making corrections to the subsidy and grant levels for those affected by the issue. It is important to note that those affected represent less than 3 percent of all individuals means-tested during the period from January 1 to January 27, 2025.
The Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES) typically uses income information from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for means-testing individuals with business income. HOMES provides means-testing results for selected subsidy schemes across the government. The issue in HOMES pertains specifically to the processing of business income data.
The problem with HOMES was first discovered in July 2021, and corrections to subsidy and grant levels were initiated at that time. The Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a media release about the issue on Monday, July 21, 2021. However, the issue resurfaced in January 2025, affecting individuals with business incomes and their households.
It is crucial for individuals to ensure that their personal and financial information is accurate and up-to-date in government systems like HOMES to avoid any potential issues with subsidies and grants. The MOH encourages affected individuals to contact their respective agencies for more information and assistance with corrections.
- In light of the recurring issues with the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES), it's essential for individuals with business income to regularly check and update their data for optimal health-and-wellness, as inaccurate information can impact mental-health by causing financial stress.
- To foster a holistic approach to wellness, the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and other managing agencies like Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) should prioritize the enforcement of data accuracy and timely processing, particularly in areas like fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and additional subsidy schemes, to ensure equitable support for all citizens.
