Oral answer by Ministry of National Development on alternative accessibility solutions where the Lift Upgrading Programme remains unfeasible

Mar 5, 2024

Question No: 5827

Question by: Mr Yip Hon Weng

To ask the Minister for National Development in view of the challenges faced by wheelchair-bound residents in HDB blocks where the Lift Upgrading Programme remains unfeasible and who are unwilling or unable to relocate using the Lift Access Housing Grant (a) whether the Ministry will further explore and provide details of alternative accessibility solutions; and (b) how is the Ministry engaging with the affected residents to understand their specific needs beyond relocation.

Answer:

          The Lift Upgrading Programme, or LUP in short, was introduced in 2001. Since then, HDB has successfully implemented LUP in more than 5,000 blocks which were originally built without direct lift access. Today, around 99% of all HDB blocks were either built with direct lift access or benefitted from the LUP. We recognise that there remains about 1% of blocks which have been unable to benefit from LUP due to high costs or technical constraints. For households in such blocks, they may tap on HDB’s Lift access Housing Grant, or LHG in short, of up to $30,000 to help them buy a replacement flat with direct lift access.

2.       I encourage households with pressing accessibility needs to approach HDB for assistance so that HDB can better understand their needs and explore suitable options with them.