Parenting

Faster Maternity Leave Claims

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Singapore, has announced that the Government has modified its maternity leave subsidy scheme to allow companies to receive their payments earlier.

As of next month, Singapore employers will no longer have to wait until a worker uses up all their maternity leave before being reimbursed.

They will get part of the subsidy as long as half of the 16 weeks of leave mothers are entitled to, has been taken. The existing subsidy scheme requires the Government to reimburse businesses for half of the 16 weeks of leave but only after the mother has taken all the leave. Thus under the current system, companies may only recieve reimbursement as late as 12 months after delivery.

According to Dr Balakrishnan, the new arrangement would make the system fairer to employers, especially with the bleak economic climate. This will hopefully help to improve cashflow for companies and encourage them to support women who want to have children and to remember that in both good and tough times Singapore must continue to be a family-friendly society.

The Government has set up a new website for interested members to find out more on the 

• reimbursement of Government-Paid Maternity Leave
• reimbursement of Government-Paid Childcare Leave  

Click here to the Pro-Family Leave Schemes>>>

Singapore Imperfect Couples Search

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has launch a campaign to find the Imperfect Couple on FaceBook. This is a run up to the recent launch of the Funeral TV Commerical shown recently on television.

Every couples is not perfect in real life. Although our personalities and characters are different, we can still stay happily together. Please be patient with your partner and you will discover the inner beauty of each other. Family Bond is precious and long lasting.

Let's endure with each other imperfection and let our family bond strengthen. 

Pizza Hut Singapore Online Order

Pizza Hut Customers can now order Pizzas online and you do not need to call 6235 3535. Just register and you can start to order Pizza online. It take less than 5 minutes to complete ordering a Pizza online. In addition, it will inform you the estimated delivery time which is mostly around 30 to 90 minutes.

There will be no more mistakes in your Pizza selection or the deliveryman forgetting about your cheese flakes and chilli powder. You do not have to wait on the phone for a customer service agent to take down your orders. The online disadvantage is you are not able to made special request as there is no remarks for you to fill in. If u need special request, you still need to call 6235 3535. Most importantly, It is convenient and fast. 

My Pizza Delivery arrived in 30 minutes using the online service.

Order Pizza Online at PizzaHut Online>>>

Get more sales ad blog subscribers

If you're a blogger like me, you'll know that one of the biggest challenges we face is getting repeat traffic. A great way to do that of course is by building a mailing list of opt-in subscribers. The problem is how to capture your visitor's details without alienating them with annoying pop-up screens. Well now I think I've found a solution... I've recently come across a cool little script called Ultimate Footer Ad that slides a small strip up from the bottom of your browser. 

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Not only that, it's dead simple to use. You can literally have this thing installed and running on your website in 10 minutes. So if you're looking for a way to increase traffic and revenues with your blog, hit the link below now to grab your copy before this really catches on...

Ace Insurance Singapore ignore my email request

Last month I have send a request to cancel my term policies with Ace Insurance as I have a better deal with American Home Assurance. Most insurance company will accept email request for cancellation of term policy and I send it in on 26 March 2009. I got acknowledge receipt of my email from Ace Insurace on the same day also.

But nobody responsd to my email and therefore I decided to call on 20 April 2009. I found out from customer service that my request was not process. Furthermore, I was asked to send in a request again and the staff, Winston promised he will monitor my email request closely.

I called in today to check with the customer service and confirmed that my request was recieved. My advice to all insurance customers who cancel their policy is to check out the cancellation status of their policy. 

American Home Assurance will process my request on receieving my email within one working day. A email will be sent out by their staff that they have process the request. This is what I call a great service standard by an insurance company.

Post Secondary Education Scheme Topup 2009

The PSEA scheme helps parents save for their children’s post-secondary education by maintaining a Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) for each eligible child. This is part of the Government’s efforts to encourage every Singaporean to complete his post-secondary education.

In March 2009, the government will top up the PSEA of every Singaporean child aged 7 to 20. My daughter Amelia received S$200 as we stay in a home with Annual value of less than S$11,000.

You can find out more about the PSE Scheme by clicking here>>>

The balance of PSEA can be find out by calling the enquiry line at 62600777

Efile Income Tax Returns 2009

It is time to starting filing Income Tax again. Please start to do your Income Tax filing as the deadline approaches. Hardcopy filing must be done by 15 April 2009 while e-filing must be done by 18 April 2009.
It is easy to do e-filing online. You only need a Sing Pass or a IRAS pin given to u when you recieve the notification to do e-filing. Remember to print out the acknowledgement page after you finish the e-filing. This is proof that you have done your e-filing.
Visit IRAS now to start your e-filing>>>
Check the Income Tax Rates>>>

Singapore Tax Resident with two children will get a $10,000 Tax Rebates. In addition, Singapore Tax Resident with one children will also get $5,000 Tax rebates.
***IMPORTANT***
You need to apply for the Parenthood tax for first time claims for this rebate in the Main Tax Form in your Tax Portal.
Please click here to find out more at IRAS>>>