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SINGAPORE: As at the end of last year, 67,000 Singaporeans or 3 percent of those eligible had not signed up for their Progress Package payouts, leading to S$49m going unclaimed out of the total $2.2b set aside.
Since details of the Progress Package were announced, there had been extensive publicity to get people to sign up and collect the money.

However, by the middle of last year about 19,000 Singaporeans who lived in 1 to 3-room flats had not collected their money, prompting grassroots leaders to go out and visit them personally.

This led to a 20 percent improvement in take-up rate among this group by year-end.

When asked, the Finance Ministry told Channel NewsAsia there could be a number of reasons people did not sign up for the packages. For example, their contact details may not have been updated, they are living overseas or they simply could not be bothered to sign up.

They added that the majority of those who did not sign up for their packages are living in private properties.

As sufficient notice was given and reminder letters sent out in November, the Finance Ministry says the scheme is now closed.

But that appeals may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Progress Package was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore's Budget 2006 to share part of the government's surpluses with Singaporeans. - CNA /dt