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SINGAPORE: Up to 1,000 more Singaporeans and permanent residents are expected to get access to civil legal aid when the income threshold is raised later this year.<\/p>\n
The per capita household income threshold for civil legal aid will go up from S$1,050 (US$850) to S$1,650, Law Minister Edwin Tong said in parliament on Monday (Mar 2) as he laid out the Ministry of Law\u2019s spending plans for the coming year.<\/p>\n
Currently, about half of the litigants for civil matters within the expanded income percentile range remain unrepresented, said the ministry.<\/p>\n
The threshold for bank savings and non-Central Provident Fund investments will also be increased from S$10,000 to S$12,000 for both civil legal aid and criminal defence aid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Applicants with extenuating circumstances will continue to be reviewed by an independent means test panel comprising legal and social service professionals,” said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law Eric Chua.<\/p>\n
The top three most common civil legal aid categories are matrimonial, monetary claims and probate matters.<\/p>\n
The government provides legal aid to vulnerable and lower-income Singaporeans and permanent residents through the Legal Aid Bureau and the Public Defender\u2019s Office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Legal Aid Bureau provides civil legal aid with the support of volunteer lawyers appointed as assigned solicitors, while the Public Defender\u2019s Office co-delivers criminal defence aid with Pro Bono SG, which administers the criminal legal aid scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To qualify for government legal aid, applicants have to satisfy the means and merits tests.<\/p>\n
\u201cEligible legal aid applicants are not required to pay for civil legal advice, but may be required to pay a financial contribution for legal aid matters. The amount of contribution charged takes into account the applicant\u2019s financial resources,\u201d MinLaw said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond government legal aid schemes, the ministry continues to work with the legal fraternity and key stakeholders to strengthen Singapore\u2019s legal aid ecosystem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This includes the ministry co-funding Pro Bono SG\u2019s community law centres, which provide socio-legal support to residents in need.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n