THE RETIREE

Mr Georgie Chng, 71, a retired army warrant officer

Home: He lives with his wife - a 63-year-old housewife - in a three-room flat they own in Waterloo Street. They have two children and one grandchild who do not live with them.

Family income: $1,200 from his pension

My biggest worry now is:The rising cost of living and transport fares. My wife and I travel often to look after our grandchild and the fares really hit you even with the senior citizens' concession rates. Trains are also getting crowded and it is tiring when I travel long distances without getting a seat.

The Government should: It should curb inflation by controlling the prices of basic groceries so that there are uniform prices across supermarkets. Transport fares for retirees like us should also not go up so much, as it will cost a lot in the long run.

I hope the Budget will: Give retirees like me more GST and utility vouchers to combat the rising cost of living. I also wish for top-ups to Medishield. Although I am healthy now, I worry about not having enough to pay if any illnesses crop up, as medical expenses are getting very expensive.

In Budget 2012

Last year, households with elderly members who were not able take care of themselves got $120 from the Government every month to hire a maid.

The government also announced subsidies for home modifications in Housing Board flats for seniors to ensure that their homes are elderly-friendly.

Changes were also made to the Silver Housing Bonus and Lease Buyback Scheme so that the lower-income elderly could unlock the value of their homes in old age and be better funded for retirement.

For more news and analysis on Singapore Budget 2013, click here for ST's Big Story coverage.