SINGAPORE, Dec. 16 -- The number of lower-income families receiving support under a key government financial aid scheme fell to its lowest level in five years in 2024.

According to a report by The Straits Times, 20,825 families were on the ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) scheme last year, down 9 per cent from 22,960 families in 2023.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in its Supporting Lower-Income Households Trends report that the decline reflected "an expansion in the economy and labour market from 2020 to 2024."

The report also noted that other government measures such as the Assurance Package, which provides cash, CDC vouchers and other benefits to cushion the goods and services tax increase, co...