SINGAPORE — Adult permanent residents (PRs) with Singaporean parents, spouses or children will be eligible for a one-off payment of S$300, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his round-up speech for the Solidarity Budget on Tuesday (April 7).

This payment will also be extended to long-term pass holders who are spouses of Singaporeans.

More details will be made available at a later date, Mr Heng said.

He told Parliament that he shared the concern of Ms Foo Mee Har, Member of Parliament for West Coast Group Representation Constituency, that these families do not benefit from cash payouts under the Care and Support Package, even though they are supporting the family in different ways during this difficult period.

The Care and Support Package was first unveiled during February’s Budget when the Government announced that all Singaporeans above the age of 21 will receive a S$300 cash payout to help them cope with the Covid-19 crisis.

During his ministerial statement for the Solidarity Budget on Monday, which is a third package of relief measures made in response to tightened regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Mr Heng announced that he was increasing the payout to S$600.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Foo said that many PRs are part of Singaporean families and have contributed socially and economically.

“They are hurting, too,” she said, then asked if Mr Heng could consider giving them some help even if not the full S$600.