The fund was initiated on Children's Day, 1 October 2000, to heighten public awareness of the plight of children from low-income families who were attending school without proper breakfast or pocket money to sustain their day in school.

Members of the public including corporations in the public and private sector responded generously after reading stories highlighting children especially those from single parent families who were most affected.

Their generosity amounted to just over $1.3 million.

Objective
The project makes available pocket money for children from low-income families. The aim is to alleviate the financial burden faced by parents in providing for their children's education. At the same time the funds will help children who are already facing difficulties in remaining in school to stay on.

Nature
Currently 32 FSCs, 20 Special Schools and 12 Children's Homes have been commissioned to administer the scheme.

The National Council of Social Services, which administers the funds, makes quarterly disbursements to these agencies to benefit their eligible clients.

Agencies' approval is based on set of eligibility criteria and assessment of the family's financial situation. Based on the assessment of the case, social workers recommend the disbursement.

The approval of either the Director of the Family Service Centre, Principal of a Special School or Head of a home is required for each application.

Disbursement of the pocket money to the beneficiary is done on a monthly basis, up to 10 months per school year.

Amount disbursed

Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the School Pocket Money Fund the applicant (i.e. the child) must be:

• A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
• A full time student
• From a low-income family (gross household income not exceeding S$1,500 per month)
• Live in a HDB 4-room flat or smaller
• Known case or beneficiary of one of the following:
  
  • Family Service Centre
  • Special School
  • Children's Home, or
  • any Welfare scheme such as Public Assistance, Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS) or General Welfare Fund

You may use one of the following electronic banking channels to make your donation.

1. Login to DBS Internet Banking
2. Click on "Payment Services"
3. Click on "Bill Payment"
4. Select "The School Pocket Money Fund" from the billing corporation list
5. Select the deposit account to debit donation
6. Enter NRIC number as the Consumer Reference Number
7. Enter the donation amount

B. Wireless Banking

1. Login to DBS Wireless Banking
2. Click on "Bill Payment"
3. Click on "Ad-hoc"
4. Enter "T" and click "Submit"
5. Scroll down search result and click on "The School Pocket Money Fund"
6. Enter NRIC number as the Consumer Reference Number and click on "Submit"
7. Click on the deposit account to debit donation
8. Enter the donation amount

D. Redeem your DBS Points
You can now use your DBS Points for charitable cause. With as little as 3,000 DBS Points, you can redeem a S$10 cash donation to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Last year, the fund successfully collected more than $2.5 million that went on to support more than 6,000 kids who had applied for the fund. The National Council of Social Services administers the funds and makes quarterly disbursements to agencies such as the family service centres (FSCs), special schools and children's homes to benefit their eligible clients. Disbursement of the pocket money to the beneficiary is done on a monthly basis, up to 10 months per school year.

So donate generously, your DBS Points will pave the path to a brighter future for these school children.