By Melissa Sim

AFTER years of waiting, parents of special needs children who are unable to afford a private trust will finally be able to ensure the financial security of their kids.

Officials yesterday announced the creation of a Government-initiated trust fund that will make payouts to physically or mentally disabled people after their parents die.

The Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) will start operations early next year, said Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan.

The money will cover housing, health and other financial needs of special needs individuals.

Dr Balakrishnan said this would address the concerns of parents who are 'always anxious about the long-term security, emotional care and financial security of their children'.

Two years ago, his ministry formed a working group of parents to study the financial security of persons with special needs. This non-profit trust was one of their recommendations.

No estimates were given as to how many people would be part of the trust fund. But the chief executive of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds), Mr Keh Eng Song, said his organisation currently serves about 2,400 individuals.

He said parents and caregivers have been discussing a trust for more than a decade.

'Parents don't have to worry if they know there will be a place for their children to live, and they are taken care of,' he said.

Under the scheme, parents will contribute a minimum opening sum to set up an account and make monthly payments, said the trust's general manager Ling Yin Fong.

The SNTC and parents will draw up a plan to care for their children, and work out how and when the money will be disbursed. More details will be announced at a later date.

Dr Balakrishnan, speaking at the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) annual conference, also said yesterday that a new Social Service Hub would be launched next year.

Located in Tiong Bahru Plaza, the hub is a collaboration between the NCSS and seven voluntary welfare organisations, including the Children's Cancer Foundation, Fei Yue Family Services and the SNTC. The welfare organisations will share common facilities such as meeting and counselling rooms.

The hub, which costs $1 million, is designed to help the non-profit organisations share resources and save on costs.

They will get 10,000 sq ft of space rent-free, but will be required to pay a minimal service fee each month.

Tiong Bahru Plaza is part of a scheme where malls allow social service providers to use their premises rent-free. In exchange, the Urban Redevelopment Authority lets the malls create more ground floor retail space.

simlinoi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 14 Nov, 2008.