MR HENG Siew Chiang, 74, retired from his job of painting cars when he was 67. The bachelor lives alone in a two-room HDB flat in Ang Mo Kio and relies on public assistance of $330 a month as his sole source of income. He cooks his meals at home and does not travel much out of his neighbourhood.

WHAT HE WANTS

'I want to rely on myself but it's difficult. Even if you rely on the Government, it cannot give you much,' he said.

He has modest wishes for this year's Budget: goods and services tax (GST) rebates similar to last year's, and cash handouts. 'There should be some rebates so that there will be less pressure on daily expenses. I don't spend money frivolously.'

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

The elderly and lowest-income households are always given special emphasis in the yearly Budget, never more so than during recessions. To help them meet their daily living costs, UOB economists say the Government could further raise the allowance for pensioners. The Singapore Allowance, a monthly boost to the pensions of some retired civil servants, was upped by $20 to $220 in last year's Budget.

Subsidies for health-care expenditure for the needy could also be considered.

Other measures could include top-ups to the Central Provident Fund savings and Medisave accounts for the aged, and a bigger proportion of cash handouts to the lower-income groups, suggested DBS economist Irvin Seah.

Public assistance schemes are also likely to be enhanced to help the most vulnerable group, he said. The Government could top up the Edusave, Medifund, and ComCare funds, among others.

ANG YIYING

This article was first published in The Straits Times on January 17, 2009.